| − | Several amendments were added to the U.S. Constitution soon after the end of World War I. In 1919, the Prohibition movement (which had been growing for decades) succeeded in ratifying the 18th Amendment, which banned the manufacture, sale, importation, and exportation of alcohol. Recall that the Prohibition movement was started by Christian women, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, who were upset at what alcohol was doing to families. Other groups joined in the effort to ban alcohol, including the Anti-Saloon League that was disgusted by the effect of saloons on communities. | + | Several amendments were added to the U.S. Constitution soon after the end of World War I. In 1919, the Prohibition movement (which had been active for decades) succeeded in ratifying the 18th Amendment, which banned the manufacture, sale, importation, and exportation of alcohol. Recall that the Prohibition movement was started by Christian women, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, who were upset at the enormous harm caused by alcohol to so many families. Other groups joined in the effort to ban alcohol, including the Anti-Saloon League, which was disgusted by the harmful effect of saloons on communities. |
| − | Congress quickly passed the Volstead Act in 1919 to enforce Prohibition, but lacked enough federal agents to enforce it. Many secretly ignored and violated the ban, and organized crime profited from the illegal trade in alcohol. After the Great Depression hit and power in the country shifted from the Republicans to Democrats in the early 1930s, the 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition, but several "dry" counties exist to this day. | + | Congress quickly passed the Volstead Act in 1919 to enforce Prohibition, but lacked enough federal agents to enforce it. Many secretly ignored and violated the ban, and "organized crime" profited from the illegal trade in alcohol. After the Great Depression hit, power in the country shifted from the Republicans to Democrats in the early 1930s. Democrats led the effort to ratify the 21st Amendment to repeal Prohibition. But even now there are several "dry" counties which do not allow the sale of alcohol. |