Prohibition

Prohibition was a period of U.S. history in which manufacture, sale, and transportation of liquor was made illegal. The eighteenth amendment to the United States constitution stated the rules of prohibition. The Volstead Act was the popular name for the National Prohibition Act. Though the Volstead Act prohibited the sale of alcohol, it did little to enforce the law. Prohibition became un-popular during the great depression leading to crimes, speakeasies, boot-legers and gangsters.


Prohibition began on January 16, 1920, when the Eighteenth Amendment went into effect. Prohibition became highly controversial during this time period

Prohibition in the 1920's was meant to help reduce the crime rate, but instead it lead to new gangs and gangsters coming up. These gangsters saw prohibition as an opportunity to make money for themselves. The gangsters opened up speakeasies or secret bars that had many Americans coming in to drink. Bootleggers where people who transported or sold alcohol illegally. Speakeasies and bootleggers led to an increase in the crime rate because of arguments over money.

The 21st Amendment to the U.S Constitution lead to the official forgo of the 18th Amendment. Thus, alcohol manufacture, sale and transportation were once again legalized. The most important Prohibition in the 1920's fact remains that it was the first and only Amendment of the US history that was repealed.