Okla-homey
10/28/2006, 09:14 AM
Oct 28 1919, Congress enforces prohibition
Eighty-seven years ago, on this day in 1919, Congress passes the Volstead Act over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. The Volstead Act provided for the enforcement of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, also known as the Prohibition Amendment. :(
http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/2931/060230volstead6je.jpg
The movement for the prohibition of alcohol began in the early 19th century, when Americans concerned about the adverse effects of drinking began forming temperance societies. By the late 19th century, these groups had become a powerful political force, campaigning on the state level and calling for national liquor abstinence.
http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/1931/carrienation8ys.jpg
Carrie Nation, the Kansas woman who led the Womens Christian Temperance Union who more than any other person in America, made national prohibition happen. The hatchet was one she had used in the days before prohibition to bust up bars! :eek: Incidentally, I always thought "Carrie Nation's" would be a great name for a bar.
In December 1917, the 18th Amendment, prohibiting the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes," was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. Congress had allowed seven years for the states to ratify the amendment, but it happened in only 13 months!
In January 1919, the 18th amendment achieved the necessary two-thirds majority of state ratification, and prohibition became the law of the land. Problem (or loophole) was, the law had no teeth because it included no enforcement clause. Enter the Volstead Act -- named for the Minnesota congressman who wrote it.
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/3003/volstead9ot.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
While the "Volstead Act" is remembered, the name of the architect of that legislation is not. He was Andrew John Volstead, a member of the House of Representatives from Minnesota for 10 terms.
The Volstead Act, passed nine months after ratification of the ratification of the prohibition amendment provided enforcement mechanisms for prohibition, including the creation of a special unit of the Treasury Department.
It gave federal authorities the power to prosecute violations. Also, it defined intoxicating beverages as those containing more than .5 percent alcohol -- as an aside, therefore 3.2 beer would have been legal even under prohibition. Despite a effort by law-enforcement agencies, the Volstead Act failed to prevent the large-scale distribution of alcoholic beverages.
Most historians agree the banning of alcohol in America created a scenario in which organized crime flourished. There was simply so much demand for alcohol it was only natural that shady people would step up to help meet that illegal demand -- and make a tremendous amount of money in the process.
http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/9377/prohibition5kn.jpg
Enforcing Prohibition proved to be extremely difficult. The illegal production and distribution of liquor, or "bootlegging," became rampant, and the government did not have the means or even the will to enforce every border, lake, river, and "speakeasy" in America. In fact, by 1925 in New York City alone, there were anywhere from 30,000 to 100,000 speakeasy clubs.
The demand for alcohol was outweighing (and out-winning) the demand for sobriety. People found clever ways to evade prohibition enforcement agents. They carried hip flasks, hollowed canes, false books, and the like. In short, Prohibition had profound negative unintended consequences. It made life in America more violent and encouraged open rebellion against the law -- even by sweet little old ladies who would'nt dream of breaking any law but dammit, wanted their nip of sherry!
http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/6290/prohibition27ut.jpg
A vast popular movement evolved for the repeal of prohibition and by the early 1930's official American alcohol abstinence was too unpopular to continue
After fourteen years of official "tee-totaling," the country had finally had enough. In January 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was passed and ratified, repealing prohibition. This remains the only historical example of a deliberate amendment to the Constitution being reversed later.
Unfortunately it took fourteen years for the US to correct its mistake and in the meantime, an awful lot of very scary and crooked gangsters got very powerful and made a ton of money.
http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/5827/insane7zo6bx.jpg
Eighty-seven years ago, on this day in 1919, Congress passes the Volstead Act over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. The Volstead Act provided for the enforcement of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, also known as the Prohibition Amendment. :(
http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/2931/060230volstead6je.jpg
The movement for the prohibition of alcohol began in the early 19th century, when Americans concerned about the adverse effects of drinking began forming temperance societies. By the late 19th century, these groups had become a powerful political force, campaigning on the state level and calling for national liquor abstinence.
http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/1931/carrienation8ys.jpg
Carrie Nation, the Kansas woman who led the Womens Christian Temperance Union who more than any other person in America, made national prohibition happen. The hatchet was one she had used in the days before prohibition to bust up bars! :eek: Incidentally, I always thought "Carrie Nation's" would be a great name for a bar.
In December 1917, the 18th Amendment, prohibiting the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes," was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. Congress had allowed seven years for the states to ratify the amendment, but it happened in only 13 months!
In January 1919, the 18th amendment achieved the necessary two-thirds majority of state ratification, and prohibition became the law of the land. Problem (or loophole) was, the law had no teeth because it included no enforcement clause. Enter the Volstead Act -- named for the Minnesota congressman who wrote it.
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/3003/volstead9ot.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
While the "Volstead Act" is remembered, the name of the architect of that legislation is not. He was Andrew John Volstead, a member of the House of Representatives from Minnesota for 10 terms.
The Volstead Act, passed nine months after ratification of the ratification of the prohibition amendment provided enforcement mechanisms for prohibition, including the creation of a special unit of the Treasury Department.
It gave federal authorities the power to prosecute violations. Also, it defined intoxicating beverages as those containing more than .5 percent alcohol -- as an aside, therefore 3.2 beer would have been legal even under prohibition. Despite a effort by law-enforcement agencies, the Volstead Act failed to prevent the large-scale distribution of alcoholic beverages.
Most historians agree the banning of alcohol in America created a scenario in which organized crime flourished. There was simply so much demand for alcohol it was only natural that shady people would step up to help meet that illegal demand -- and make a tremendous amount of money in the process.
http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/9377/prohibition5kn.jpg
Enforcing Prohibition proved to be extremely difficult. The illegal production and distribution of liquor, or "bootlegging," became rampant, and the government did not have the means or even the will to enforce every border, lake, river, and "speakeasy" in America. In fact, by 1925 in New York City alone, there were anywhere from 30,000 to 100,000 speakeasy clubs.
The demand for alcohol was outweighing (and out-winning) the demand for sobriety. People found clever ways to evade prohibition enforcement agents. They carried hip flasks, hollowed canes, false books, and the like. In short, Prohibition had profound negative unintended consequences. It made life in America more violent and encouraged open rebellion against the law -- even by sweet little old ladies who would'nt dream of breaking any law but dammit, wanted their nip of sherry!
http://img462.imageshack.us/img462/6290/prohibition27ut.jpg
A vast popular movement evolved for the repeal of prohibition and by the early 1930's official American alcohol abstinence was too unpopular to continue
After fourteen years of official "tee-totaling," the country had finally had enough. In January 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was passed and ratified, repealing prohibition. This remains the only historical example of a deliberate amendment to the Constitution being reversed later.
Unfortunately it took fourteen years for the US to correct its mistake and in the meantime, an awful lot of very scary and crooked gangsters got very powerful and made a ton of money.
http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/5827/insane7zo6bx.jpg