Two men pouring out a barrel of beer

Prohibition

The prohibition that rocked the United States of America was that of alcohol. Coming into effect on the 16th of January, 1920 the 18th Amendment prohibited the sale, manufacture, and transportation of intoxicating liquors. It didn't forbid the possession or consumption of alcohol though. This Amendment had been in the making already for many years; and in the months before the 18th Amendment came into effect many people bought as much alcohol as they could before it became illegal. Nonetheless, in the first couple of years the prohibition seemed to work for its intended purposes. People had hoped that without alcohol the country would become a better place. One without a drunken work force, and less crime. However, it wasn't long before the people couldn't take it anymore. Within the space of a few years, the 18th Amendment had gone to absolute ashes. Corruption was everywhere in the federal system, and illegal bars were set up along practically every block in the cities. The prohibition was a battled topic in Congress however. Some people wanted the Amendment gone, while others wanted it to stay. Meanwhile, the population was split in half over this. Organizations like the Anti-Saloon League were pushing to keep the 18th Amendment in effect; while the other half of the U.S. was shoving the government to annul it. Prohibition survived the election of President Hoover, but not of FDR. FDR was the president to finally ratify the 21st Amendment in December 1933, which stated that the 18th Amendment was repealed. In little time, life in the United States had settled down once again, but not before its history was invariably altered.