Eighteenth Amendment

The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1919, prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. This period, known as Prohibition, aimed to reduce crime and corruption, improve health, and strengthen families. However, it led to unintended consequences, including the rise of illegal speakeasies and organized crime. The amendment was difficult to enforce and ultimately unpopular, leading to its repeal by the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933. The Eighteenth Amendment serves as a significant example of the complexities of regulating personal behavior through law.