Amendment XVIII
Text of the Amendment
Section 1. 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.
Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress
Understanding the Amendment
Any manufacture, sale, or transportation of inebriating liquor within the United States or its territory is illegal. Importation and exportation of liquor is also illegal. This amendment shall be put into effect one year after its ratification. Congress, along with the States, have the power to enforce this law. Still, the consumption and purchase of liquor remains legal.
History of the Amendment
The National Prohibition Act of 1919, also known as the Volstead Act, was the inspiration for the eighteenth amendment to the constitution. The bill was originally vetoed by President Woodrow Wilson, however Congress overturned his veto the very same day. The text of the amendment itself is brief, however the law to implement it was twenty-five pages long and very difficult to understand. The law was violated by tens of millions of Americans, spawning organized crime throughout major cities throughout the nation.
Effects of the Amendment on the United States
This amendment has been rendered obsolete by the the twenty-first amendment, therefore, it yields no direct effects on the United States today. However, in its time, this amendment, ironically, did not dampen the general use of intoxicating beverages within the United States. Instead, it spawned illicit sales and manufacturing (bootlegging) of liquor, which resulted in a sharp increase in crime. Today, the amendment does have some lingering, indirect effects, as temperance has been more culturally endorsed, and states have imposed stricter age requirements for the use of alcohol.
Effects of the Amendment on Me
Because this amendment was cancelled by the twenty-first, and it is illegal for me to carry/consume alcohol, this amendment has virtually no effect on me. However, through observing how this amendment effected the United States historically, I understand that it is unwise to prohibit alcohol in this country...
I agree that it is unwise to prohibit alcohol in this country. I understand that alcoholism could be related to crime, poor health, and reckless accidents in the nation. But prohibition would only lead to organized crime and illegal trade and consumption of alcohol. It caused the nation to realize prohibition was a mistake and so with the 21st amendment, it was repealed. It was the only amendment to be repealed so far. I thought the cartoon was very cool because just trying to prohibit alcohol led to the increase in all the other things such as gambling and corruption.
ReplyDeleteI have the personal view that alcohol and marijuana are very similar beasts in the social spectrum compared with today and the past. Example, both things impair the decision making of the user along with disorientation which further increases danger. Both also affect the users body creating long lasting health issues mainly lung damage and liver damage. Alcohol created more gangs and organized crime during the time period drinking was illegal, the same issue with weed now, but between international borders now past what alcohol was. However, only one of these things is illegal, why? Who knows. People still buy it and use it the same with alcohol. Legalizing it would decrease illegal sale of the drug lowering organized crime, and saving people from going to prison, and then the states can tax it and create revenue. I don't know. Thats just my view and im sure there are people with good points to counter my arguement because it hasn't been legalized yet. So yea.
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