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Beginning of the Temperance Movement
The first of the temperance organizations was founded in Saratoga, New York, in 1808. By the year 1833, there were at least 6,000 organizations throughout the States. Some groups advocated for moderation of alcohol while others wanted complete abstinence. Many of the organizations were founded by women. -
The Motive for the Temperance Movement
Alcohol abuse was very common in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the 1830's, the average American citizen over the age of 15 drank an average of seven gallons of alcohol per year. This overuse paired with violence, family issues, and death, inspired the Temperance Movement. As the 20th century began, the push for legislation banning alcohol escalated. -
Start of Prohibition
In 1846, Maine passed its first prohibition laws. After the Civil War, other states banned alcohol, but there was no federal law banning the sale of alcohol. As more and more states banned alcohol within their own borders, a call for federal prohibition increased. -
Proposal and Ratification of the 18th Amendment
Woodrow Wilson declared temporary prohibition during World War I in order to save grain for the troops. Later in December of 1917, Congress proposed the 18th Amendment. The proposal passed the house 282-128 and the senate 65-20. The amendment was ratified and went into affect January 16, 1920. -
Volstead Act
To make sure the 18th Amendment was being enforced, Congress passed the Volstead Act. The Act created criminal punishment for those who sold and distributed alcohol. Although it was vetoed by Wilson, Congress overrode the veto making it a law. -
Loopholes
While the manufacturing, transferring, and sale of alcohol was illegal, there were ways around the amendment. Medicinal, sacramental, and industrial use of alcohol remained legal and many people found ways to use this excuse to get alcohol throughout prohibition. -
Bootlegging and the Mafia
Even though it was illegal, people known as "bootleggers" manufactured and sold alcohol. Enforcement of prohibition in the cities was very weak and the Mafia rose to control the bootlegging industry. Crime increased in the 20's, and one of the main causes was the Mafia and lack of law enforcement. This rise in crime started to change the minds of people about prohibition. -
Al Capone
The greatest known Mafia man was Al Capone. It is estimated that he earned $60 million a year from his bootlegging operations. Capone was able to bribe police and and pay off government politicians in order to run his operation without problems. -
Call for The Repeal of the 18th Amendment
Calls for the repeal of the 18th Amendment greatly increased as the Great Depression started and crime surged. The government needed more money and there would be employment opportunities if the manufacturing and distribution of alcohol were to be made legal again. Presidential candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt promised to repeal the amendment, and when he won the election, he came through on his promise. -
Proposal and Ratification of the 21st Amendment
On February 20, 1933, Congress passed a proposal for the 21st Amendment, which would repeal the 18th Amendment. The Amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933, officially ending the era of prohibition. A few states continued statewide prohibition for some years after, but by 1966, every state had abandoned it.