Prohibition Era facts for kids

Police removing illegal alcohol during Prohibition.

The Prohibition Era was a time in United States history, from 1920 to 1933, when a nationwide law made it illegal to make, sell, or transport alcoholic drinks. Imagine a time when all the breweries, distilleries, and places that sold drinks like beer, wine, and spirits had to close their doors! This period was a grand experiment to try and change society by removing alcohol from people's lives.

Why Did Prohibition Happen?

A pro-prohibition political cartoon by Currier and Ives, from 1874

To understand Prohibition, we need to go back even further, to a time when many people believed that alcohol was causing a lot of problems in society. This belief led to a movement called the Temperance Movement.

For a long time, even before the United States was a country, people had different ideas about drinking alcohol. In the early days of America, some communities tried to limit the sale of strong drinks. As the country grew, especially in the 1800s, more and more people started to worry about the effects of too much drinking. They believed it led to difficulties in families, problems at work, and even unfairness in local government.

The word "temperance" means moderation or self-control. Initially, the movement encouraged people to drink less, or to avoid stronger alcoholic drinks. But over time, many temperance supporters began to believe that the only way to solve the problems they saw was to ban alcohol completely.

Two very important groups helped lead the charge for Prohibition:

The American Temperance Society (ATS): Formed in 1826, this was one of the first big groups to push for temperance. It grew very quickly, with many members across the country.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU): Founded in 1874, this group was made up mostly of women. They believed that banning alcohol would protect families and children. They worked hard to educate people about the dangers of alcohol and even pushed for women to have the right to vote, thinking that women voters would support Prohibition. Their motto was "Do Everything," meaning they worked on many social issues, not just temperance.
The Anti-Saloon League: This group, which became very powerful after 1900, focused specifically on getting laws passed to ban alcohol. They were very good at convincing politicians and voters to support their cause. They were known for their strong political strategies, like "Wheelerism," which used media to make it seem like everyone supported their ideas.

These groups, often supported by various religious communities, saw the places where alcohol was sold, called "saloons," as centers of political corruption and social problems. They believed that if saloons were closed, society would become much better.

The Role of World War I

A big push for nationwide Prohibition came around the time of World War I (1914-1918). When the United States joined the war in 1917, supporters argued that stopping the production of alcoholic drinks would save valuable resources, like grain, which could then be used to feed soldiers and people during wartime.

There was also a feeling that banning alcohol was a patriotic thing to do, especially since many breweries were owned by German Americans, and Germany was an enemy during the war. This made it harder for people who opposed Prohibition to speak out.

Even though the war ended before Prohibition officially began, these arguments helped build strong support for the idea.

The 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act

The efforts of the temperance movement eventually led to a major change in the United States Constitution.

On December 18, 1917, the U.S. Congress proposed the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution. For an amendment to become law, a certain number of states (three-fourths) have to agree to it. By January 16, 1919, enough states had ratified it, making it part of the Constitution.

The 18th Amendment declared that it was illegal to:

Manufacture (make)
Sell
Transport
Import (bring into the country)
Export (send out of the country)

...alcoholic beverages anywhere in the United States. The amendment stated that this ban would begin one year after its ratification, which meant January 17, 1920.

While the 18th Amendment set the rule, another law was needed to explain exactly how it would be enforced and what counted as an "alcoholic beverage." This law was called the National Prohibition Act, but it's much more famously known as the Volstead Act. Congress passed it on October 28, 1919, even overriding a veto from President Woodrow Wilson.

The Volstead Act defined "intoxicating liquors" as any drink with more than 0.5% alcohol by volume. This meant that even very light beers and wines were included in the ban. It also laid out the penalties for breaking the new law.

Exceptions and Loopholes

Interestingly, the Volstead Act didn't ban all alcohol or all drinking. Wine could still be used for religious ceremonies, like communion in churches or for special holidays in synagogues. Doctors could prescribe alcohol (like whiskey) for medical purposes. This became a significant loophole, with many prescriptions being written and filled throughout the era.

People were allowed to make a certain amount of fruit juice (like grape juice) at home, and if it accidentally fermented into wine or cider, that was often overlooked, as long as it wasn't sold. Some vineyards even grew grapes specifically for home use.

The federal law didn't make it illegal to possess or consume alcohol that you already owned before Prohibition started. Many wealthier families bought large amounts of alcohol to store in their homes before January 1920.

These exceptions, along with the sheer size of the country, made enforcing Prohibition a huge challenge.

Life During Prohibition: A Time of Change

When Prohibition began, it certainly changed things, but not always in the way its supporters had hoped.

Bootlegging and Smuggling

Since alcohol was illegal, a huge underground market quickly developed. This was called bootlegging. Bootleggers were people who illegally made, transported, or sold alcohol.

Because alcohol was still legal in neighboring countries like Canada, Mexico, and in the Caribbean, many people smuggled it across the borders. Rivers and coastlines became busy routes for "rum-runners" who brought in illegal drinks.

People also started making their own alcohol in secret. This homemade hard liquor was often called "moonshine" in rural areas and "bathtub gin" in cities. These names came from the fact that it was often made at night (by moonlight) or in bathtubs!

Speakeasies: Secret Gathering Places

With saloons closed, new secret bars called speakeasies popped up everywhere. These places got their name because you had to "speak easy" (quietly) about them to avoid attracting attention from the police. Speakeasies were often hidden behind secret doors, in basements, or in the back rooms of other businesses. They became popular social spots. This era also saw the rise of jazz music, which became very popular in these lively, hidden clubs.

The Dangers of Illegal Alcohol

Because illegal alcohol wasn't regulated or inspected, it could be very dangerous. Bootleggers sometimes used strange or harmful ingredients to make their drinks, or they would try to remove poisons from industrial alcohol (alcohol meant for factories, not drinking) to make it drinkable. Sadly, some people became very sick or even died from drinking illegally made alcohol that contained dangerous ingredients. This was a serious and tragic consequence of the black market.

Challenges of Enforcement

Enforcing Prohibition was an enormous task, and it proved to be incredibly difficult.

The federal government assigned a small number of agents, called Prohibition agents or "revenuers," to enforce the Volstead Act. With a vast country, long borders, and many determined people trying to get around the law, these agents were often overwhelmed. Some states and local communities even refused to help enforce the federal law.

Prohibition was expensive to enforce. The government had to spend a lot of money on agents, boats, and other resources to try and stop bootlegging and illegal sales. At the same time, the government lost a huge amount of tax revenue that it used to collect from the legal sale of alcohol. Before Prohibition, taxes on alcohol made up a significant portion of government income. This loss of money became a bigger problem, especially when the Great Depression hit in 1929.

The Wickersham Commission

In 1929, President Herbert Hoover created a special group called the Wickersham Commission to study how well Prohibition was being enforced. Their report, released in 1931, showed that the law was widely ignored and that many people were breaking it. This report helped convince more people that Prohibition wasn't working.

The End of Prohibition: The 21st Amendment

As the 1920s came to a close and the Great Depression began, public opinion started to shift dramatically.

Many reasons led to a growing desire to end Prohibition:

Economic Problems: The Great Depression meant that governments desperately needed money. Bringing back legal alcohol sales would mean new tax revenues and new jobs in breweries, distilleries, and stores.
Increased Crime: While some studies disagree on the overall impact on crime, many people believed that Prohibition had actually increased organized crime. Criminal groups, like those led by famous figures, grew powerful and wealthy by controlling the illegal alcohol trade. This led to violence and lawlessness that worried many citizens.
Lack of Respect for Law: When so many people openly broke the law, it seemed to reduce respect for laws in general.
Changing Social Views: Many people felt that the government shouldn't control what adults chose to drink.

President Roosevelt and the Repeal

In the 1932 presidential election, Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Democratic candidate, promised to end Prohibition. This promise was very popular, and he won the election.

Soon after taking office, on March 22, 1933, President Roosevelt signed a new law called the Cullen-Harrison Act. This act made it legal to sell beer and wine with a low alcohol content (up to 3.2% alcohol by weight). This was a big step towards ending full Prohibition.

The final step came on December 5, 1933, when the Twenty-first Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. This amendment did something very rare in American history: it repealed (canceled) another amendment, the 18th Amendment! Utah was the 36th state to ratify it, making the repeal official.

States Take Control

The 21st Amendment didn't mean that alcohol became legal everywhere instantly. Instead, it gave the power back to the individual states to decide their own laws about alcohol. This is why, even today, some counties or towns in the United States are still "dry" (meaning they prohibit or restrict alcohol sales), and states have different rules about when and where alcohol can be sold.

What Were the Effects of Prohibition?

The effects of Prohibition are still debated by historians today, but we can look at some of the changes it brought.

Health Changes

During Prohibition, there was a noticeable decrease in certain serious health problems related to drinking alcohol, such as liver issues. This suggests that for some people, the lack of easy access to alcohol did have a positive health impact. However, as mentioned earlier, the dangers of illegally made alcohol also led to new health risks.

Crime and the Black Market

One of the most significant and often discussed effects of Prohibition was the rise of organized crime. By making alcohol illegal, the government created a huge, profitable black market. Criminal groups stepped in to meet the demand, leading to more violence and illegal activities. While crime existed before Prohibition, the ban on alcohol provided a new and very lucrative business for these groups, helping them grow in power and influence.

Social and Economic Shifts

Prohibition changed social norms. With the rise of speakeasies, women became more accepted in public drinking spaces, which was a big shift from the male-dominated saloons of the past. The speakeasies were often places where jazz music thrived, helping to spread its popularity across the country.

The legal alcohol industry, including breweries, distilleries, and bars, suffered greatly, leading to job losses. However, after repeal, these industries slowly recovered, creating new jobs and tax revenue for the government, which was much needed during the Great Depression.

Prohibition also led to an expansion of the federal government's power in trying to enforce a nationwide ban, and it shaped how law enforcement operated.

A Lasting Legacy

Even though national Prohibition ended in 1933, its legacy continues. The 21st Amendment's decision to give states control over alcohol laws means that today, many states still have local laws about alcohol sales, showing the lasting impact of this era. It remains the only time in American history that a constitutional amendment was passed to repeal another one, making it a truly unique and memorable period.

Images for kids

Detroit police in a clandestine brewery during the Prohibition era
"Who does not love wine, wife and song, will be a fool his whole life long!" (Wer nicht liebt Wein, Weib & Gesang / Bleibt ein Narr sein Leben lang.)
Governor James P. Goodrich signs the Indiana Prohibition Act, 1917
After the 36th state adopted the amendment on January 16, 1919, the U.S. Secretary of State had to issue a formal proclamation declaring its ratification. Implementing and enforcement bills had to be presented to Congress and state legislatures, to be enacted before the amendment's effective date one year later.
A policeman with wrecked automobile and confiscated moonshine, 1922
Removal of liquor during Prohibition
A Prohibition-era prescription used by U.S. physicians to prescribe liquor as medicine
A temperance fountain erected by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union during the Prohibition era in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Men and women drinking beer at a bar in Raceland, Louisiana, September 1938. Pre-Prohibition saloons were mostly male establishments; post-Prohibition bars catered to both males and females.