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Prohibition was a nationwide ban on the manufacturing, sale, and transport of alcohol, enforced by the 18th Amendment (ratified January 16th, 1919) and the Volstead Act (also known as the National Prohibition Enforcement Act). The amendment went into action in 1920, and Prohibition lasted until it was repealed in 1933 by the 21st Amendment. Nationwide Prohibition was actually preceded by alcohol being banned in 36 states. The movement was spearheaded by many organizations, most consisting of women or religious citizens who insisted that America's excessive consumption of alcohol was detrimental to society.

Although the ban was initially successful, it was soon proved to be nearly unenforceable. Communities across the country found ways to obtain liquor through bootlegging—the illegal production and distribution of alcohol. Individuals came up with ways to make liquor at home, smuggled it in through Canada, or went to a speakeasy (an illegal, secret drinking establishment). They faked illnesses to get prescriptions from doctors that would allow them to buy whiskey and bought sacramental wine for 'religious' purposes. The Prohibition era also saw a sharp rise in organized crime, as groups maintained widespread distribution and sale of illegal alcohol, while bribing Prohibition enforcement officers to keep quiet.

By the time that the 18th Amendment was repealed, it was clear that if somebody wanted a drink, they were already able to gain access to it. Overall, Prohibition was considered to be one of the most poorly enforced laws in American history.

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This map shows the order in which the states (Alaska and Hawaii were not yet part of the US) ratified the 18th Amendment. While Prohibition was intended to be nationwide, the state senates of Rhode Island and Connecticut rejected the ratification of the 18th Amendment. The fact that Prohibition affected (nearly) the entire country was significant because it meant that this era of breaking federal laws and cultural reform with the introduction of the Roaring Twenties' socially liberated practices was written into the history of America as a whole.

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Carry Nation was a notable member of the temperance movement. She was known for taking radical action to stop alcohol consumption in public places. Sometimes referred to as Hatchet Granny, she is depicted in this cartoon from 1901 with her hatchet that she frequently used to destroy saloons where alcohol was being served. Photo obtained from https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/photo-gallery.

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The Crusaders were an organization formed in 1929 after the Valentine's Day Massacre—an event of gang violence where seven died. They advocated strongly for the repeal of Prohibition. Here, Elizabeth Thompson is depicted with a "The Crusaders" tire cover and its slogan "Repeal the 18th Amendment", taken in 1930 in Chicago. Photo obtained from Photo obtained from https://guides.loc.gov/prohibition-images.

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As the federal government attempted to enforce Prohibition, officers were sent to raid many different buildings suspected of harboring illegal alcohol. This photo from 1929 shows the scale of bootlegging that took place in cities, as Prohibition officers dump gallons upon gallons of confiscated alcohol out of a raided building onto the street. Photo obtained from https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/prohibition-alcohol-history-1920-1933/.

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Speakeasies, hidden drinking establishments built during Prohibition to sell alcohol, often also served as a place for both men and women to socialize, listen to music, and dance together. Since they were usually not very well-kept secrets, their owners bribed local police officers to keep the business running. In this photo from 1933, patrons socialize at a speakeasy in New York City. Photo obtained from https://www.life.com/destinations/prohibition-photos-inside-the-speakeasies-of-new-york-in-1933/.

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Bootleggers were notorious for being sneaky with their alcohol—hiding it in fake canes, compartments in their vehicles, and even specially designed garters for women. In this photo from Los Angeles, 1926, a Prohibition officer inspects a bootlegger's "lumber truck" that was being used to smuggle alcohol. Photo obtained from https://www.thescroller.net/23581/photos-from-prohibition/.

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The 21st Amendment was ratified on December 5th, 1933, officially ending Prohibition and unbanning alcohol across the United States. This 1933 newspaper article from Daily News in New York City announces the end to Prohibition, showing smiling men and women with drinks in their hands—likely alcohol from bootleggers, since this article came out so shortly after the 18th Amendment was repealed. Photo obtained from https://www.nydailynews.com/2022/12/05/nyc-in-the-prohibition-days/.

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In this photo from 1920, Prohibition officers in New York City pour liquor into the sewers after it was raided from a bootlegging operation. Although raids like these were common in big cities, smaller towns with easily bribed local officers often saw even less enforcement—and even in the bigger cities, bootlegging was such a widespread practice that if you wanted alcohol, you could probably find it. Photo obtained from https://www.britannica.com/event/Prohibition-United-States-history-1920-1933.