Prohibition

Prohibition

The nationwide ban on the sale, production, and transportation of alcohol in the U.S. from 1920 to 1933.

18th Amendment

The constitutional amendment that established Prohibition in 1919.

Volstead Act

The law that enforced the 18th Amendment and defined what counted as "intoxicating liquors."

Temperance Movement

A social movement that sought to limit or ban alcohol use to improve moral behavior and family life.

Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)

An organization of women that fought to end alcohol consumption and promote moral reform.

Anti-Saloon League

A powerful political group that lobbied for Prohibition and stricter alcohol laws.

Bootlegging

The illegal production, distribution, or sale of alcohol during Prohibition.

Speakeasies

Secret bars or clubs where people drank alcohol illegally during Prohibition.

Organized Crime

Grew rapidly during Prohibition as gangs smuggled and sold illegal alcohol.

Al Capone

A famous Chicago gangster who made millions through bootlegging and organized crime.

Moonshine

Homemade illegal liquor often produced in rural areas during Prohibition.

Rum-Running

The smuggling of alcohol by sea or land from other countries into the United States.

Law Enforcement Issues

Prohibition was difficult to enforce because of corruption, lack of resources, and widespread public disobedience.

Corruption

Police and politicians were often bribed by bootleggers and organized crime figures.

Economic Effects

The government lost tax revenue from legal alcohol sales, while enforcement costs increased.

Cultural Effects

Drinking became an act of rebellion and glamour, especially in cities and among young people.

Flappers

Young women in the 1920s who rejected traditional norms and often drank illegally at speakeasies.

Jazz Age

The cultural era of the 1920s often associated with speakeasies and illegal drinking.

Moral Arguments

Supporters of Prohibition believed alcohol caused crime, poverty, and broken families.

Opposition to Prohibition

Many Americans saw the law as government overreach and continued drinking anyway.

Urban vs. Rural Divide

Rural areas supported Prohibition more strongly; urban areas often ignored it.

Immigrant Communities

Many immigrant groups resisted Prohibition since alcohol was part of their culture.

Great Depression

The economic crisis of the 1930s helped turn public opinion against Prohibition.

21st Amendment

The 1933 amendment that repealed the 18th Amendment, ending Prohibition.

Repeal of Prohibition

Ended in 1933 due to widespread failure, public opposition, and the need for tax revenue.

Legacy of Prohibition

Left a lasting impact on law enforcement, organized crime, and American culture.

"Dry" States

States or counties that supported and enforced Prohibition laws.

"Wet" States

States or areas that opposed Prohibition and often ignored the ban on alcohol.

Government Revenue

Before Prohibition, alcohol taxes made up a large part of government income.

Public Health Effects

Mixed; alcohol consumption initially dropped but rose again through illegal sources.

Impact on Crime Rates

Crime rates increased due to organized crime and illegal smuggling.

Enforcement Agents

Known as "Prohibition agents," they tried to stop bootlegging but often faced violence and bribery.

Carrie Nation

A radical temperance activist known for attacking saloons with a hatchet.

Mafia

Criminal organizations that grew in power and wealth during Prohibition.

Black Market

The illegal trade system that developed for alcohol during Prohibition.

Federal Bureau of Prohibition

The agency created to enforce Prohibition laws.

Alcohol Smuggling Routes

Paths used by smugglers, especially from Canada and the Caribbean, to bring alcohol into the U.S.

Homemade Beer and Wine

Many people secretly brewed their own alcohol at home despite the ban.

Propaganda

Used by Prohibition supporters to link alcohol to sin, crime, and social decay.

Repeal Movement

Political and social effort to end Prohibition in the early 1930s.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

The president who supported the repeal of Prohibition and signed the 21st Amendment.

Social Change

Prohibition reflected tensions between modern and traditional American values.

Economic Motivation for Repeal

The government needed alcohol taxes to help fight the Great Depression.

State Control After Repeal

Some states chose to regulate or ban alcohol even after national repeal.

Impact on Law Enforcement

Prohibition showed the limits of government control over personal behavior.

Moral Reform Movement

Prohibition was part of a larger effort to improve society’s morals and health.

Cultural Resistance

Films, music, and literature of the time often mocked or criticized Prohibition.

Bootleggers’ Innovation

Smugglers created clever methods like hidden compartments and secret tunnels.

NASCAR Connection

Stock car racing grew partly from bootleggers modifying cars to outrun police.

Dry Agents

Federal officers who enforced Prohibition laws and raided illegal breweries.

Speakeasy Passwords

Secret codes or words required to enter illegal bars.

Homemade Distilling Equipment

Used by people to secretly make liquor at home, often dangerous or unsafe.

Prohibition Bureaucracy

Thousands of officials hired to manage enforcement, many of whom were corrupt.

Public Opinion Shift

By the late 1920s, most Americans viewed Prohibition as a failure.