18th Amendment Ratified, Beginning Prohibition Era

Context

By the early twentieth century, alcohol consumption had become a focal point of Progressive Era reformers who linked excessive drinking to poverty, domestic violence, industrial accidents, and declining public health. Temperance organizations that originated in the 1820s and 1830s had evolved into sophisticated national lobbies, drawing support from Protestant churches, women's groups, and rural communities concerned about urban saloons and immigrant drinking cultures. These efforts gained momentum during World War I, when grain conservation arguments and anti-German sentiment against brewing interests helped push Congress to act.

What Happened

In December 1917 Congress approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors and sent it to the states for ratification. By the beginning of 1919, thirty-five states had approved the measure. On January 16, Nebraska's legislature voted in favor, becoming the thirty-sixth state and meeting the three-fourths threshold required by Article V. Secretary of State Frank L. Polk formally certified the amendment's adoption thirteen days later.

Aftermath

Congress quickly turned to enforcement, passing the National Prohibition Act, known as the Volstead Act, in October 1919 over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. The law defined intoxicating beverages, created a federal enforcement unit within the Treasury Department, and set penalties for violations. Prohibition took effect at midnight on January 17, 1920, closing breweries, distilleries, and saloons across the country while leaving private possession and consumption technically unregulated.

Legacy

The amendment's fourteen-year experiment produced widespread evasion through speakeasies and bootlegging, fueled the growth of organized crime syndicates, and exposed the difficulties of enforcing moral legislation on a national scale. Public frustration contributed to the rapid repeal of the 18th Amendment by the 21st Amendment in December 1933, marking the only time a constitutional amendment has been overturned. The episode also established lasting precedents for federal regulatory authority over commerce and personal conduct.