Prohibition in the United States, 1919-1933

By Katie Hambrock

Known as the Noble Experiment, the years of 1919-1933 were the years of prohibition. This was all started by the Volstead Act, named for Senator Volstead of Minnesota, who proposed a ban on the sale of alcohol but did not enforce the law. This act was signed in as our 18th amendment, despite a veto from President Wilson.

America was in the midst of movement best known as the Second Great Awakening in the years leading up to the Volstead Act. This movement focused on Christian morality and how to better society through the use of revival meetings, Utopian societies, and temperance groups such as the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). Groups like the WCTU gathered to protest and change the moral wrongs in American society, such as alcohol, gambling, tobacco, and other vices. The WCTU believed that alcohol led to spousal abuse, poor sanitation, child abuse, accidents on the job and loss of work. By banning the sale, the WCTU would thus have a stronger society in which all of these problems of society would go away. Little did they know that out of this would come bathtub gin, rum runners, and organized crime of the 1920s and 30s.

By the time that the Volstead Act was signed in as our 18th amendment, citizens of the United States had discovered how to make alcohol illegally and transport it past state lines. This began a lucrative business for those in organized crime, such as Diamond Joe Esposito and Al Capone. Both were known to have multiple speakeasies, or nightclubs, where patrons could enter via password and enjoy these illegal drinks. When it came time for a raid by police, the alcohol would be hidden. In case of police seizure, the local officers would dispose of it by digging holes in the ground and pouring the liquor into the holes.

Organized crime flourished with it’s black market monopoly on alcohol. This brought crime to major cities, in particular Chicago and St. Paul. St. Paul became the hide out for such famous gangsters of Chicago as John Dillinger, Al Capone, and Ma Barker. The police of St. Paul were easy to pay off in advance, as long as criminals promised not to commit any crimes within the city limits. The whereabouts of the criminals would also be denied if Chicago police came to town looking for these individuals.

What do you already know about prohibition?

Look at this copy of the Volstead Act and read it.

1. What does this Act allow?

2. What does this act prohibit?

3. Who would have supported this act?

4. Who would have disagreed with this act?

5. Why would this act have been proposed?

Read the lower portion regarding the “War Prohibition”.

Remember that World War I has just concluded; while the amendment was being drafted, the war was still being fought in France and Germany. This was supposed to inspire patriotism and support for troops by not indulging in luxuries such as drink.

How can these acts help inspire patriotism?