Temperance and Prohibition

Amongst the more prominent were the Anti-Saloon League and the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and soon they began effecting local prohibition laws; by the turn of the century the movement was gaining sway in politics on a national level.

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The brewing industry was big business and brewers often opened their own saloons in order to sell more alcohol.  In some areas, it got to the point where there was a saloon for every 200 people and in a bid to drum up more customers, gambling and prostitution also took place on some of the premises leading many Americans to despise the whole industry.

Campaigners were well aware that making the sale of alcohol illegal would not stop its consumption immediately.  Some believed however that prohibition would allow an unhampered educational campaign that would eventually lead to a sober nation.  Others believed that law enforcement would stamp out any remaining suppliers, forcing the nation to stop drinking.

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In December 1917, the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the “manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes”, was passed and in January 1919, it achieved the two-thirds majority it needed for state ratification, bringing in the prohibition era.  Nine months later on October 28th, 1919 the United States Congress passed the Volstead Act providing for the enforcement of the 18th Amendment.

Consumption of alcohol dramatically declined after the ban, dropping by around 70% in the early 1920s.  Consumption rates steadily rose through the prohibition era but did not reach the same levels as pre-prohibition for a long time after the ban was lifted, so in that sense prohibition worked.

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However organised crime flourished as a direct result of the ban on alcohol and gangs were able to distribute it on a large scale, making themselves richer and more powerful in the process.  Eventually this led to a rethink by officials in Washington and in 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was passed and ratified, revoking prohibition.

For more on temperance and prohibition, visit;

http://prohibition.osu.edu/default.cfm