Alcohol Prohibition Timeline

This Alcohol Prohibition Timeline explores the complex and often contradictory history of alcohol regulation in the United States, tracing its roots from early colonial practices to the lingering effects felt today. The timeline encompasses not only the well-known period of national prohibition but also the preceding temperance movements, the specific challenges faced by Native American communities, and the enduring legacy of "dry" areas across the country.

The story begins long before the 20th century, intertwined with the very fabric of American society.

Early American Drinking Culture and the Seeds of Temperance

Alcohol was deeply embedded in early American life. When the Puritans set sail for the New World aboard the Mayflower, they stocked more beer than water, highlighting the beverage’s importance for hydration and sustenance in an era when water sources were often unreliable. As settlements grew, so did the production and consumption of alcohol. By 1657, a rum distillery was already operating in Boston, signaling the emergence of a domestic liquor industry.

However, the prevalence of alcohol consumption also led to concerns about its potential negative impacts. These concerns spurred the initial stirrings of the temperance movement, aiming to moderate or eliminate alcohol consumption.

• 1789: The first American temperance society was formed in Litchfield, Connecticut, marking a formal effort to address perceived problems associated with alcohol.
• 1792: The Whiskey Rebellion erupted in western Pennsylvania. Farmers protested a federal tax on liquor, viewing it as an unfair burden. President George Washington responded by sending a large force to quell the uprising, demonstrating the government’s commitment to enforcing its tax laws.
• 1801: President Thomas Jefferson, seeking to alleviate economic burdens, recommended the abolition of the federal duty on liquor, reflecting a fluctuating attitude toward alcohol regulation.
• 1802: An amendment to the Trade and Intercourse Acts outlawed the use of liquor in the Indian fur trade. This act, intended to protect Native American communities from exploitation and the detrimental effects of alcohol, was difficult to enforce effectively. Private traders often circumvented the law, undermining the government’s attempts to regulate the trade.

The Rise of the Temperance Movement

The early 19th century witnessed a significant surge in the temperance movement, fueled by religious fervor, social concerns, and a desire for moral reform. Temperance societies proliferated, attracting a wide range of supporters.

• 1826: The American Society for the Promotion of Temperance was founded in Boston, becoming a leading force in the movement. By 1833, the organization boasted 6,000 local societies with over one million members, indicating the widespread appeal of the temperance message.
• 1832: Congress passed a law that completely banned alcohol in "Indian country," further solidifying the federal government’s attempt to control alcohol consumption among Native American populations.
• 1845: A law prohibiting the public sale of liquor was enacted in New York State, demonstrating the growing political influence of the temperance movement. However, the law was repealed just two years later, highlighting the challenges in sustaining prohibition efforts at the state level.
• 1852: Susan B. Anthony, a prominent figure in the women’s suffrage movement, established the Women’s State Temperance Society of New York. This marked a significant development, as women played an increasingly important role in advocating for temperance and prohibition, often linking alcohol consumption to issues of domestic violence and social inequality. Early feminists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Abby Kelly were also active in the prohibition movement.

The Growing Momentum Towards Prohibition

The latter half of the 19th century saw the temperance movement gain considerable momentum, fueled by organized activism and the emergence of powerful lobbying groups.

• 1862: The Internal Revenue Act imposed a license fee on retail liquor dealers and a tax on beer and spirits. This act, primarily designed to raise revenue for the Civil War effort, also provided the federal government with greater oversight of the alcohol industry.
• 1869: The Prohibition Party was formed, advocating for the complete prohibition of alcohol through political action. Gerrit Smith, a former Abolitionist candidate for President, became a prominent voice in the party, drawing parallels between the fight against slavery and the fight against alcohol.
• 1874: The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.) was founded in Cleveland, becoming one of the most influential and enduring organizations in the temperance movement. The W.C.T.U. focused on a wide range of social reforms, with temperance as a central goal, and employed innovative tactics such as public education and political lobbying.
• 1882: "Temperance education" became a required part of the public school curriculum in the United States, reflecting the success of the temperance movement in shaping public opinion and influencing policy.
• 1882: The Personal Liberty League of the United States was founded to oppose the growing movement for compulsory abstinence from alcohol, representing a counter-movement that defended individual rights and opposed government interference in personal choices.
• 1883: Frances Willard, a prominent leader of the W.C.T.U., formed the World’s Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, extending the temperance movement’s reach internationally.
• 1884: Laws were enacted to make anti-alcohol teaching compulsory in public schools in New York State, with other states following suit. By 1900, all states had similar laws in place, demonstrating the widespread adoption of temperance education.
• 1886: Congress mandated anti-alcohol education in the District of Columbia and in territorial, military, and naval schools.
• 1901: The Senate adopted a resolution, introduced by Henry Cabot Lodge, to forbid the sale of opium and alcohol by American traders "to aboriginal tribes and uncivilized races." These provisions were later extended to include "uncivilized elements in America itself and in its territories," such as Indians, Alaskans, inhabitants of Hawaii, railroad workers, and immigrants at ports of entry, revealing the discriminatory undertones of the prohibition movement.
• 1913: The Sixteenth Amendment, creating the legal authority for federal income tax, was enacted. This amendment indirectly paved the way for prohibition by reducing the federal government’s reliance on liquor taxes, which had previously constituted a significant portion of its revenue.

National Prohibition: A "Noble Experiment"

The culmination of decades of activism and political maneuvering, the 18th Amendment ushered in a period of national prohibition, fundamentally altering the landscape of American society.

• 1914: Congressman Richard Hobson of Alabama, advocating for a prohibition amendment, made overtly racist statements, claiming that alcohol would "make a brute out of a Negro," and that while it had the same effect on white men, it took longer due to their "further evolved" nature. Despite such discriminatory rhetoric, some African American leaders joined the crusade against alcohol.
• 1916: The Pharmacopoeia of the United States dropped whiskey and brandy from its list of drugs, signaling a shift in the medical community’s view of alcohol.
• 1917: The president of the American Medical Association endorsed national prohibition. The House of Delegates of the association even passed a resolution opposing the use of alcohol as a beverage. However, by 1928, physicians were estimated to be making $40,000,000 annually by writing prescriptions for whiskey, highlighting the hypocrisy and loopholes that plagued the system.
• 1917: The American Medical Association declared that "sexual continence is compatible with health," linking alcohol consumption to concerns about venereal disease.
• 1918: The Anti-Saloon League, a powerful lobbying organization, labeled the "liquor traffic" as "un-American," "pro-German," "crime-producing," "food-wasting," "youth-corrupting," "home-wrecking," and "treasonable," reflecting the increasingly strident rhetoric of the prohibition movement during World War I.
• 1919: The Eighteenth (Prohibition) Amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution, prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors.
• 1920-1933: The use of alcohol was prohibited in the United States. In 1932 alone, approximately 45,000 people received jail sentences for alcohol offenses. During the first eleven years of the Volstead Act, which enforced prohibition, 17,971 people were appointed to the Prohibition Bureau, but 1,604 were dismissed for bribery, extortion, theft, falsification of records, conspiracy, forgery, and perjury, highlighting the corruption and ineffectiveness that plagued the enforcement efforts.
• 1921: The Council of the American Medical Association refused to confirm the association’s 1917 resolution on alcohol, indicating growing dissent within the medical community. In the first six months after the enactment of the Volstead Act, over 15,000 physicians and 57,000 druggists and drug manufacturers applied for licenses to prescribe and sell liquor, further illustrating the widespread circumvention of the law.
• 1929: Approximately one gallon of denatured industrial alcohol in ten was diverted into bootleg liquor. Around forty Americans per million died each year from drinking illegal alcohol, primarily due to methyl (wood) alcohol poisoning, a consequence of the unregulated and often dangerous production of illicit alcohol.
• 1930: The Federal Bureau of Narcotics was formed. Many of its agents, including its first commissioner, Harry J. Anslinger, were former prohibition agents, demonstrating the continuation of law enforcement efforts focused on substance control.

Repeal and Lingering Effects

The Alcohol Prohibition Timeline shows that by the early 1930s, the widespread failure of prohibition became undeniable. The rise of organized crime, the rampant flouting of the law, and the economic hardships of the Great Depression led to growing calls for repeal.

• 1933: The Eighteenth Amendment was repealed, marking the end of national prohibition.

Post-Prohibition: Continued Regulation and Native American Communities

Even after repeal, the regulation of alcohol remained a complex issue, with significant variations across states and communities.

• 1935: The American Medical Association declared that "alcoholics are valid patients," marking a shift towards a more medicalized understanding of alcohol dependence.
• 1953: Indian prohibition was repealed country-wide by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. However, Indian reservations remained "dry" unless they opted to permit the possession and sale of alcohol. This policy created unique challenges for Native American communities, as exemplified by the situation at Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Despite being a "dry" reservation, the nearby town of White Clay, Nebraska, just one mile outside the reservation boundary, thrived on selling beer to reservation residents.
• 1954: Four-fifths of the French people questioned about wine asserted that wine is "good for one’s health," reflecting cultural differences in attitudes toward alcohol consumption.

The Enduring Legacy of Prohibition

The Alcohol Prohibition Timeline makes it clear that the history of alcohol regulation in the United States continues to shape attitudes and policies today. Despite the repeal of national prohibition, many states continued their own state prohibition laws, and others permitted "local option" regarding prohibition. Hundreds of "dry" counties and municipalities still exist, demonstrating the enduring influence of the temperance movement. Millions of Americans continue to support the concept of prohibition, reflecting ongoing concerns about the potential negative consequences of alcohol consumption. The Alcohol Prohibition Timeline paints a vivid picture of the lasting impact of this tumultuous period in American history.