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Evangelical Christians founded the American Temperance Society in 1826. Temperance advocates looked at how terrible alcohol was for you. They blamed alcohol on abuse, public disorder, and financial ruin. The temperance society wanted to change attitudes toward alcohol. -
In December 1917 the 18th amendment was passed by both chambers of congress. This amendment prohibited any sale, production, consumption, or distribution of alcoholic beverages. -
This act provided enforcement for the 18th amendment. It was vetoed by president Woodrow Wilson but congress voted to override the veto. It was named for a Minnesota representative, Andrew Volstead. He was the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Volstead championed the bill and prohibition. -
Bootlegging began after the 18th amendment was ratified. It began to really pick up after the Volstead Act passed. Families, pub owners, mob members and lots more would produce alcohol. Basements to addicts to farms to remote hills to forests across America were used to produce alcohol. Americans would hide alcohol everywhere. They would do anything to keep there booze around. -
Underworld power dynamics shifted drastically when prohibition started. The bars and breweries were out of business, someone had to step in to fuel the thirst of America. Mobsters were the most equipped to fill this role. Every criminal had become a business man.
Bootlegging was what everyone wanted to do. The crime rates skyrocketed and there was no stopping it. -
Seven unarmed members of a bootlegging gang were shot dead in their garage. A separate gang disguised themselves as the police. They raided the garage and shot the seven members in cold blood. -
The act permitted states to legalize alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of 3.2% by weight. States could also pass similar legislation effective within their borders. I was a bending of the 18th amendment. -
The 21st amendment repealed the 18th amendment. It allowed the sale, production, distribution, and consumption of all alcoholic beverages. The amendment still allowed states to ban alcohol themselves.