The 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution Explained

US Constitution
US Constitution
()

What Is the Eighteenth Amendment?

The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution banned the processing, moving, and selling of intoxicating alcohol and was ratified on January 16, 1919. 

However, it did not prohibit people from consuming, producing for personal consumption, or being in private possession of intoxicating liquors. 

Bottles of alcohol
The 18th Amendment ushered in the era of prohibition.

Section 1 of the 18th Amendment prohibited the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors.”

Section 2 states that the United States Congress has the power to enforce the article through pertinent legislation. 

Section 3 declared that the article would only be operative after it was ratified as a constitutional amendment.

Congress subsequently passed the Volstead Act to carry out the intent of the Eighteenth Amendment. 

The Years Preceding Prohibition

Between 1913 and 1919, the nation’s laws primarily focused on establishing an income tax, Senators being elected by the people, and prohibition.

Dollars
The US government relied heavily on the revenue generated from the sale of alcohol in the early 1900s.

The government relied heavily on tax revenue from the sale of alcohol. Therefore enactment of the 16th Amendment (the income tax amendment) helped eliminate the main obstacle to prohibition.

The Sixteenth Amendment made prohibition financially feasible. It was advantageous to the temperance movement as the loss of revenue argument against prohibition was now moot.

The Volstead Act

On October 28th, 1919, Congress passed the Volstead Act, also known as The National Prohibition Act, which introduced numerous limitations concerning the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol. 

United States Congress
United States Congress.

It stated which alcoholic beverages were restricted and which ones were not. Alcoholic drinks that were used for purposes such as religion or in medicine were exempt. 

President Woodrow Wilson refused to sign the bill. Still, the House of Representatives and Senate overrode his veto, and the Volstead Act was enacted.

January 17th, 1920, was the date the Volstead Act would go into effect all over the country. It was the earliest date allowed for prohibition by the Eighteenth Amendment.

President Woodrow Wilson
President Woodrow Wilson vetoed the Volstead Act but his veto was overridden by Congress.

The Repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment

After the Eighteenth Amendment was ratified and enacted in 1920, it remained in effect for 13 years. However, in 1933 the Eighteenth Amendment was repealed after the ratification of the 21st Amendment.

Man praying over Bible
The temperance movement had long advocated for prohibition in the United States.

This was despite the fact that there were powerful political coalitions that had initially advocated for prohibition.

Protestants, progressives, and many women, such as those in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, had been vocal for a number of years on the negative impact alcohol was having on American society and public health.

Man holding gun
Organized crime benefited greatly from prohibition.

What the temperance movement did not foresee, however, was how prohibition would lead to a direct rise in organized crime, exemplified by the infamous gangster Al Capone.

Enforcement of the Volstead Act became a near-impossible task, and a large and ultimately successful political movement grew calling for the repeal of the 18th Amendment.

Man drinking beer
The 21st Amendment repealed the 18th Amendment.

The 21st Amendment ended national prohibition when it became effective on December 5th, 1933.

The 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution Explained Quiz

Which amendment repealed the Eighteenth Amendment?
What did the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution ban?
What was the Volstead Act also known as?
When did the 21st Amendment become effective?
Which group was vocal about the negative impact of alcohol on society?
How long was the Eighteenth Amendment in effect?
Who refused to sign the Volstead Act?
What was one unintended consequence of prohibition?
When did the Volstead Act go into effect?
When was the Eighteenth Amendment ratified?

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the Eighteenth Amendment prohibit?

The Eighteenth Amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors in the United States. However, it did not ban the consumption, personal production, or private possession of alcohol.

What was the Volstead Act and how did it relate to the Eighteenth Amendment?

The Volstead Act, also known as The National Prohibition Act, was passed by Congress to enforce the Eighteenth Amendment. It detailed which alcoholic beverages were restricted and provided exemptions for uses such as religious or medicinal purposes. The Act went into effect on January 17, 1920.

Why was the Sixteenth Amendment important for the enactment of the Eighteenth Amendment?

The Sixteenth Amendment, which established a federal income tax, made prohibition financially feasible by replacing the tax revenue previously generated from alcohol sales. This eliminated a major obstacle to enacting the Eighteenth Amendment.

How long was the Eighteenth Amendment in effect, and what led to its repeal?

The Eighteenth Amendment was in effect for 13 years, from 1920 to 1933. It was repealed by the Twenty-First Amendment due to the rise in organized crime, difficulties in enforcement, and growing public opposition to prohibition.

What role did President Woodrow Wilson play in the Volstead Act?

President Woodrow Wilson vetoed the Volstead Act, but his veto was overridden by Congress, leading to the Act's enactment on October 28, 1919.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.