What was it?:
It was basically the prohibition of alcohol
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.[1]
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.[1]
Volstead Act
The 18th amendment by itself was rather broad. It stated simply that "the manufacture, sale, or transportation or intoxicating liquors...," was forbidden. However, what was considered to be intoxicating liquors needed to be specified as well as the consequences of violating the amendment. The act specified that any beverage that had over 0.5% alcohol content.
What caused it?:
- Temperance movement: Christians were attempting to purify the United States of all sin. Drinking, specifically being drunk was viewed as a sin. Alcohol was thought to be the source of many of society's issues. They believed that the ban of alcohol would improve morals and character.
- Groups such as the Anti-Saloon League, and the Women's Christian Temperance Union supported the prohibition
Why didn't it work out?:
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Saint Valentine's Day Massacre
A conflict rose between two gangs in Chicago. The two gangs were the South Side Italian Gang whose lead by the infamous Al Capone and their rival the North Side Irish Gang lead by Bugs Moran. During the conflict, the South Side Italian Gang decided to use deceitful tactics. Two South Side members dressed up as policemen and ambushed 7 North Side members. The North Side members believed the disguised policemen to be real and surrendered, and then they were killed. The massacre took place on the North Clark Street Garage which was very close to residential neighborhoods as well as Lincoln Park. What's more, this crime was committed during broad daylight. The average citizen's safety was questioned as was the security of the police to have their uniforms stolen. This crime was so impactful because it occurred in broad daylight, which meant that if gangs were already this bold there was little stopping them from becoming more aggressive unless something was done. Organized Crime Organized crime reached an all time high. Gangs were slowly dispersing by the 1900's. The prohibition breathed new life into the dying gangs. Bootlegging became a major source of profit for gangs. Gangs that committed petty crimes and murders became powerful by controlling liquor supplies smuggled from outside the States. Crime Rates:
The discovery that that they had a certain amount of control over politicians, federal agents, and judges gave gangs part of their power. Corruption: The corruption spread so far that it was fashionable for even respectable citizens to have some bootlegged liquor in their homes and in speakeasies. President Warren G. Hardling himself turned the White House into a private saloon. Government agents were accepting bribes as well, between 1920-1928 706 government agents were fired and another 257 were prosecuted. |
Court Case:
Hawke v. Smith: The of Ohio ratified the 18th amendment on June 1, 1920. However, many Ohioans didn't approve of the amendment. They called for referendum, a popular vote, to repeal the approval of the amendment.
Although repeal for the 18th amendment won the vote, supporters of the 18th amendment filed a lawsuit to declare the referendum illegal. This lawsuit became known as Hawke v. Smith
"The Ohio Supreme Court ruled against the amendment's supporters, but on appeal, the United States Supreme Court ruled that Ohio voters could not overturn the state legislature's approval of Prohibition by popular referendum." (http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Hawke_v._Smith?rec=506)
Although repeal for the 18th amendment won the vote, supporters of the 18th amendment filed a lawsuit to declare the referendum illegal. This lawsuit became known as Hawke v. Smith
"The Ohio Supreme Court ruled against the amendment's supporters, but on appeal, the United States Supreme Court ruled that Ohio voters could not overturn the state legislature's approval of Prohibition by popular referendum." (http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Hawke_v._Smith?rec=506)
The End of the Prohibition
By the late 1920's most people were fed up with the Prohibition. In addition, an anti-prohibition group called the Americans Against Prohibition Association (AAPA) fueled the public opinion. In 1932, presidential candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt stated that one of the objectives on his platform was the repeal of the 18th amendment.
In early 1933 Congress adopted a proposal of the 21st amendment which nullified the 18th amendment and the Volstead Act. By 1966 all states all states abandoned the 18th amendment.
In early 1933 Congress adopted a proposal of the 21st amendment which nullified the 18th amendment and the Volstead Act. By 1966 all states all states abandoned the 18th amendment.
Summary of Prohibition Video
[1] "18th Amendment." Cornell University Law School. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. <http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxviii>.
[2] "Organized Crime and Prohibition." Web. 16 Feb. 2015. <http://www.albany.edu/~wm731882/organized_crime1_final.html>.