18th Amendment
The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol.This started the Prohibition era. It was ratified on January 16, 1919.
Text of the 18th Amendment
Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.
Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
Why was the 18th Amendment passed?
The groups dedicated to encouraging temperance had a number of reasons for it. They believed there to be a direct link between alcohol and many antisocial behaviors, like child abuse and domestic violence. Another famous concern was that of Henry Ford, who believed that alcohol had a negative impact on labor productivity. Many breweries were also headed by German immigrants, and the Anti-German sentiment during WWI helped push Prohibition into law.
With the banning of alcohol, people had to find other ways to obtain it. Organized crime started to expand and smuggle in alcohol.
Text of the 18th Amendment
Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.
Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
Why was the 18th Amendment passed?
The groups dedicated to encouraging temperance had a number of reasons for it. They believed there to be a direct link between alcohol and many antisocial behaviors, like child abuse and domestic violence. Another famous concern was that of Henry Ford, who believed that alcohol had a negative impact on labor productivity. Many breweries were also headed by German immigrants, and the Anti-German sentiment during WWI helped push Prohibition into law.
With the banning of alcohol, people had to find other ways to obtain it. Organized crime started to expand and smuggle in alcohol.