18th Amendment

Definition

The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States, leading to the era of Prohibition. This landmark legislation had a significant impact on various aspects of American society during the 1920s.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The 18th Amendment was ratified in 1919 and went into effect in 1920, marking the beginning of the Prohibition era in the United States.
2. The goal of the 18th Amendment was to reduce alcohol consumption and its associated social problems, such as alcoholism, domestic violence, and crime.
3. The Volstead Act, passed in 1919, provided the legal framework for enforcing the 18th Amendment, defining intoxicating liquors and establishing penalties for violations.
4. Prohibition led to the rise of organized crime and the proliferation of speakeasies, which were illicit establishments that sold alcoholic beverages in secret.
5. The 18th Amendment had a significant impact on the economy, as it disrupted the alcohol industry and led to job losses, decreased tax revenue, and the growth of a black market for alcohol.

Review Questions

• Describe the primary goals and objectives of the 18th Amendment.
  • The primary goals of the 18th Amendment were to reduce alcohol consumption and its associated social problems, such as alcoholism, domestic violence, and crime. By prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages, the amendment aimed to promote public health, safety, and morality within American society.
• Explain how the 18th Amendment and Prohibition led to the rise of organized crime and the proliferation of speakeasies.
  • The 18th Amendment and the enforcement of Prohibition created a lucrative black market for alcohol, as people continued to demand alcoholic beverages despite the legal ban. This led to the rise of organized crime syndicates that controlled the production, distribution, and sale of illicit alcohol. To meet the demand, speakeasies – secret establishments that sold alcoholic beverages – emerged across the country, further fueling the growth of organized crime and the underground alcohol trade.
• Analyze the broader economic and social impacts of the 18th Amendment and Prohibition on American society during the 1920s.
  • The 18th Amendment and Prohibition had far-reaching economic and social consequences. The disruption of the alcohol industry led to job losses and decreased tax revenue for the government. The growth of the black market for alcohol and the rise of organized crime introduced new challenges, such as increased violence and corruption. Socially, Prohibition contributed to a cultural divide, with some segments of society embracing the moral crusade against alcohol, while others resisted the restrictions and sought ways to circumvent the law. The enforcement of Prohibition also strained law enforcement resources and eroded public respect for the law, ultimately leading to the amendment's repeal in 1933 with the ratification of the 21st Amendment.

Related terms

Prohibition: The national ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States, enforced from 1920 to 1933 under the 18th Amendment.

Volstead Act: The federal law that provided for the enforcement of the 18th Amendment, defining intoxicating liquors and establishing penalties for violations.

Speakeasies: Illicit establishments that sold alcoholic beverages during the Prohibition era, often in secret or hidden locations.