The Prohibition Era

Maine prohibits alcohol

Feb 27, 1851

Maine was the second state in the history of America to attempt a statewide prohibition, and it turned out to be a major success. The first state was Georgia which prohibited alcohol over 100 years earlier and failed to last more than seven years.

Alcohol Prohibition in The United States

Period: Feb 27, 1851 to Dec 5, 1933

Prohibition on Wikipedia

12 other states have enacted prohibition legislation

Dec 31, 1855

These states became known as the "dry states."

National Prohibition Party is founded

Aug 30, 1869

Its first National Committee Chairman was John Russell of Michigan. It succeeded in getting communities and also many counties in the states to outlaw the production and sale of intoxicating beverages.

Kansas became the first dry state

Apr 3, 1881

Kansas became the first state to add prohibition to their state legislature.

National Prohibition Party elects first member to the House of Representatives

Dec 9, 1890

Thomas J. Geary is the first member from the National Prohibition Party to be elected to Congress.

Anti-Saloon League

Mar 7, 1893

This league was founded in 1893 in Oberlin, Ohio. It became nationwide in 1895. It was a huge vocal point for the passing of the 18th Amendment. In 1950, the group's name was changed to the National Temperance League. It 1964 it changed its name again to the American Council on Alcohol Problems.

Volstead Act is instituted

Dec 17, 1917

The United States passes the Volstead Act which helped set up the passage of the 18th Amendment.

The Wartime Prohibition Act

Nov 18, 1918

The Wartime Prohibition Act is passed to help save grain for the war during World War I.

18th Amendement

Oct 28, 1919

This constituational amendment voted that the United States go dry.

The Rise of the Bootleggers in the 1920's

Jan 1, 1920

Bootleggers were people who made, sold, or transported alcoholic beverages for sale illegally.

Improvement

Jun 14, 1921

By 1921, the death rate from alcoholism was cut by 80 percent from pre-war levels.

Speakeasies arose

Jan 1, 1927

A speakeasy is an establishment that illegally sells alcohol. By 1927, a total of 30,000 illegal Speakeasies in the United States.

Eliot Ness Begins to Tackle Violators of Prohibition

Jan 1, 1929

Eliot Ness begins in earnest to tackle violators of prohibition and Al Capone's gang in Chicago. He becomes known as the leader of a group called "The Untouchables."

Prohibition opponets

Jan 1, 1929

Opponents argue that alcohol consumption declined dramatically during the Prohibition Era. By 30 - 50%. Deaths from Cirrhosis of the liver for men fell from 29.5 per 100,000 in 1911, to 10.7 per 100,000 in 1929.
Pictured is a patient with Cirrhosis.

St. Valentines Day Massacre

Feb 14, 1929

This desperation for alcohol and the desperation to prohibit it often led to murder and violence, including 1929's St. Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago.

Al Capone arrested

Jun 16, 1931

The notorious gangster Al Capone is arrested. Al Capone was one of the biggest influences on bootlegging during the prohibition. He was also known for the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.

Getting worse

Jul 21, 1932

In 1932 a statemen was released by John D. Rockefeller saying, "Drinking has generally increased, the speakeasy has replaced the saloon; a vast army of lawbreakers have been recruited and financed on a colossal scale."

Herbert Hoover Discusses Prohibition and the Need for Its End

Aug 11, 1932

Herbert Hoover gave an acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination for president in which he discussed the ills of prohibition and the need for its end.

Franklin D Roosvelt signs Cullen-Harrison Act

Mar 23, 1933

This act legalized the manufacturing of certain alcoholic beverages.

21st amendment

Dec 5, 1933

Prohibition is repealed in all states.