The tragedy reshaped American society, as this law was “the act of prohibiting the manufacturing, storage in barrels or bottles, transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcohol including alcoholic beverages.” (3) The term can also apply to periods in the histories of countries during which the prohibition of alcohol was enforced. The 1920’s became the century known to many as the Prohibition era. Around the world, The Prohibition Era started in 1920, the 19th of January. This was for almost 14 years this law remained in this effect. U.S constitution took away license’s from business’s from brewers, distillers, vintner’s, marketing and whole sellers of alcoholic drinks. The 1920s was an age of dramatic social and political change, …show more content…
Prohibition activists arose to ban Alcohol to reduce corruption, crime, solve social problems, improve health and hygiene in America and to reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses. The arose of activists against alcohol started back in 1773 when “John Wesley,” (4) the founder of Methodism preached that drinking was sinful. In early years the consumption of alcohol in the U.S was 7 gallons per capita per year. American Temperance Society, Massachusetts Society and Connecticut Society for the Reformation of Morals was groups against consumption. In 1826 Boston area ministers founded the American Temperance Society, and in 1831 it had 170,000 members. In 1833 the American Temperance Union merged with two existing national temperance organizations. The groups where rising as more people joined giving the American Temperance Society one million members by 1834. And in 1850 the consumption of alcohol had been lowered to at least two gallons in alcohol per year. In 1855 thirteen out of the forty states made prohibition laws. Although there was still more to do. Years developed and yet there were still ore saloons than schools, libraries or churches in the United states in 1909. “It was not until the 1910’s however, that sufficient support war garnered to make national prohibition a reality.” (1) In 1919, Mississippi, North Dakota, Maryland, South Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts, Florida, Louisiana, Delaware, Texas, Arizona and Montana was voting against approval of the 18th amendment. “January 17 - February 25 although the requisite number of states had already ratified the 18th Amendment, the following states also ratified it: Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania. Rhode Island became the second (of two) states to vote against ratification.” But then “Congress passed the Volstead Act over President Wilson's veto, establishing procedures and powers to enforce prohibition under the “18th