Prohibition Laws in the United States. n the 1800s, the dry movement began in the United States. The dry movement was the first step in the process of Prohibition.
Prohibition Laws in the United States
Prohibition was a stage in the United States legal system that prohibited manufacturing, selling and shipment of alcoholic substances between 1919 and 1933. It became part of the United States Constitution through the Eighteenth Amendment.
The abuse of alcohol was seen as gluttony. Therefore it was considered one of the seven deadly sins. In the 1800’s, the dry movement began in the United States. The dry movement was the first step in the process of Prohibition. The number of bars had decreased. The only bars that were left charged mass amounts of money on beverages and only sold liquor by the glass and beer by the mug. This period is believed to have been the strongest step in Prohibition. Because of the excessive abuse of alcohol, when the sources decreased, so did the abusers. Kansas was the first state to put the ban of alcohol in effect. Protestant Christians made sure that the ban’s strength was getting stronger. Gluttony, one of the seven deadly sins was their main motivation in their stand for the ban of alcohol. An amendment was introduced in 1917 to prohibit alcohol nationwide. This amendment became ratified in thirty eight states. The amendment states that: “After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.” By this point, Prohibition was supported by many people. This time period had the highest death rates from alcoholic consumption. Prohibition became very controversial with doctors in that era because they had used alcoholic substances for medical purposes. Medical Professionals fought to repeal Prohibition in that sense that it could be used to medicinal purposes only. There were some exceptions to Prohibition. In the early 1900’s, prescription use of alcohol was the only legal way to purchase alcohol. Homemade wines and cider were legal as long as they originated from fruit. Also, communion in churches involving wine was not deemed illegal. Surrounding areas of the United States did not allow alcoholic substances either. Because of the availability of shipment of these alcoholic beverages to the United States, it would violate Prohibition and therefore, broke the law. However, personal use of alcohol was not an prohibited. As long as one was not selling or transporting alcohol, it was deemed legal to be in the household for personal use.
