Mountain Stream Courtesy of PeakBagger.com
By 1909, North Carolina became the ninth state to legalize prohibition. Now the public frowned upon the home-brewers. No longer were they seen as champions fighting against an unjust government. Instead, they were villains trying to poison men and ruin families.
Temperance Movement Political Cartoon Courtesy of Westerville Public Library
Map of Wet and Dry States in 1910 Courtesy of Cornell University
Courtesy of The Library of Congress
Unlike previous amendments that restricted the federal government, the 18th Amendment restricted personal rights.
At only 44 words long, Congress had to pass legislation to define this constitutional amendment.
"If any man supposes that a mere law can turn the taste of a people from ardent spirits to malt liqours, he has a most romantic notion of legislative power "
- Fisher Ames
"The purpose of this Act is to make effective the Eighteenth Amendment."
- Andrew J. Volstead
The Volstead Act, also known as "The National Prohibition Act", passed on October 18th, 1919, and defined “intoxicating liquor” as 0.5% alcohol. It also established federal enforcement agencies and determined punishments. People were furious when they realized it banned beer and wine.
Clinton Howard, Chair of the National Prohibition Convention
Courtesy of Alexander Street Press
Courtesy of the US National Archives and Records Administration
Nolan Adams, Thomas Cripe, Holden Pate, Conrad Sims, and Eli Taylor
Senior Group Website