This post contains some affiliate links
Friends,
In a dramatic turn of events that would reshape American society, the 21st Amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933, officially ending Prohibition. After 13 tumultuous years of speakeasies, bootlegging, and a rise in organized crime, citizens across the country raised their glasses in celebration as the government acknowledged that banning alcohol had only fueled a culture of rebellion.
The repeal marked not just a return to legal libations but also a pivotal moment in U.S. history, highlighting the complexities of morality, governance, and personal freedom. Join us as we dive into the fascinating story of how America went from dry to thriving, and the lessons learned along the way!
Prohibition is the only Amendment to the Constitution to have been repealed.
Bars and former speakeasies erupted in celebration when Roosevelt’s signature dried on the Cullen-Harrison Act on March 22, 1933. The legislation, which would take effect on April 7, brought back beer (3.2 percent alcohol by weight or 4 percent by volume) and light wines with matching alcohol content, while establishing federal taxation for both. Americans would wait several more months—until December 5, 1933—for the complete dismantling of Prohibition, when stronger spirits finally flowed legally once again.
Drinking wasn’t prohibited—just the manufacture, sale, and transport.
On January 17, 1920, the United States embarked on a bold and controversial experiment with the ratification of the 18th Amendment, which banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquor nationwide and in its territories. This sweeping legislation was enforced through the Volstead Act, aiming to curb the social issues associated with alcohol consumption. However, rather than fostering a more temperate society, Prohibition ignited a wave of underground speakeasies, organized crime, and widespread defiance, ultimately reshaping American culture and law in ways that would resonate for decades to come.
President Wilson needed special permission to transport his White House wine cellar after leaving office.
When President Wilson departed the Oval Office in March 1921, his collection traveled with him from the White House to his Washington, D.C., residence at 2340 S Street. Despite prohibition laws that made transporting alcohol illegal at the time, Congress granted the former president a special dispensation to relocate his extensive collection to his new home—the property now preserved as Woodrow Wilson House, designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
Utah’s ratification, as the 36th state, officially ended Prohibition.
The final nail in Prohibition’s coffin came from an unlikely source: Utah. When the state’s convention voted to ratify the 21st Amendment on December 5, 1933, it became the crucial 36th state to approve, officially repealing the 18th Amendment and ending the national alcohol ban. Ironically, Utah would go on to implement one of the country’s most restrictive liquor control systems just two years later, establishing state-run stores and tight regulations that persist in modified form today.
Mississippi held out on legal liquor until 1966.
By the time three-quarters of the states had voted to repeal Prohibition, the national ban on alcohol had lasted about fifteen years. Mississippi, though, kept its “dry” status on the books.
Then in 1944, Mississippi lawmakers—eyeing the revenue they were missing out on—passed what they called the “Black Market Tax Law.” This created the curious arrangement where bootleggers could obtain permits and pay taxes on alcohol that remained, technically speaking, illegal to possess, transport, or sell.
Long after the rest of America had moved on from Prohibition, Mississippi clung to its temperance laws until 1966—and even then, the state’s relationship with alcohol remained complicated. The irony deepened in 2021, when possession finally became legal statewide, though many counties still exercise their right to stay “dry,” preserving pockets of Prohibition across the state’s patchwork legal landscape.
But did it work?
Now the real question is ‘why’. Well, according to Mark Thornton in his paper Cato Institute Policy Analysis No. 157: Alcohol Prohibition Was a Failure (1991), he said:
National prohibition of alcohol (1920-33)–the “noble experiment”–was undertaken to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses, and improve health and hygiene in America.
Ironically no. There was a decline in amusement and entertainment; restaurants failed; thousands lost their jobs; and even more became ‘criminals.’ According to PBS:
Before Prohibition, many states relied heavily on excise taxes in liquor sales to fund their budgets. In New York, almost 75% of the state’s revenue was derived from liquor taxes. With Prohibition in effect, that revenue was immediately lost. At the national level, Prohibition cost the federal government a total of $11 billion in lost tax revenue, while costing over $300 million to enforce.
Unintended Consequences of Prohibition- Michael Lerner, historian
But the most interesting consequence of Prohibition is the criminal justice system.
As the decade progressed, court rooms and jails overflowed, and the legal system failed to keep up. Many defendants in prohibition cases waited over a year to be brought to trial. As the backlog of cases increased, the judicial system turned to the “plea bargain” to clear hundreds of cases at a time, making a it common practice in American jurisprudence for the first time.
Unintended Consequences of Prohibition- Michael Lerner, historian
So there we have it. A moment in history that defines what happens when the government oversteps the line in the sand between personal freedoms and perceived social well-being.
For every prohibition you create, you also create an underground.
Jello Biafra
Until next time, Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.
Subscribe below to stay up to date on myths, legends, mysteries, and the chaos of history.
If you’re looking for your next favorite read, I invite you to check out my book, The Raven Society. This spellbinding historical fantasy series takes us on a heart-pounding journey through forgotten legends and distorted history. Uncover the chilling secrets of mythology and confront the horrifying truths that transformed myths into monstrous realities. How far will you go to learn the truth?
The Writer and The Librarian (Book 1):
Signed copies at:
https://rlgeerrobbins.com/product/the-writer-and-the-librarian-the-raven-society-book-1/
Explore More Blogs:
Awesome article! You captured the irony well.