What did Prohibition refer to in the United States?

Prohibition in the United States specifically refers to the period when the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages were banned. This was established by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which took effect in 1920. The goal of Prohibition was to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, and improve public health by eliminating alcohol consumption, which was seen as a source of various societal issues.

The Volstead Act was enacted to provide for the enforcement of Prohibition, delineating the details of the ban on alcohol. Under Prohibition, the illegal production and distribution of alcohol flourished, leading to the rise of bootlegging and speakeasies, and eventually contributing to a backlash that culminated in the repeal of Prohibition with the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933.

Understanding Prohibition is crucial because it illustrates the complexities of American social and political life in the early 20th century, highlighting how laws intended to improve society can sometimes have the opposite effect.