Progressive Era Amendments

16th Amendment The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration. February 3, 1913 Meaning: The federal government has the right to tax a person’s income on a regular, fair basis. Why? Provided a way to tax income without regards to state population and to ensure all wealth was taxed and supplying money to government.

17th Amendment The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures. April 8, 1913 Meaning: All senators will be directly elected by the people. Why? Appointment of senators by state legislatures had led to corruption and control of senators by monopolies and trusts. The policies/legislation they voted on were for the benefit of these large companies only.

18th Amendment 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. January 16, 1919 Meaning: It was illegal to buy, sell or transport alcohol in the United States. Why? The Temperance Movement convinced Americans that crime and sin were created by the abuse of alcohol.

18th Amendment Section 2 Congress and the several states shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Meaning: Volstead Act was created to allow the federal government, the U.S. Treasury Department, police powers to enforce Prohibition. This later leads to the creation of the FBI. Why? Up to this point, only states had police powers within their jurisdiction. The federal government could not intervene.

19th Amendment The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Meaning: All U.S. citizens, regardless of sex, shall not be denied the right to vote. August 18, 1920 Why? Only males could vote up to this point. It was also a result of the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

21st Amendment The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed. December 5, 1933

During Wilson’s eight years as president, Congress passed two constitutional amendments: prohibition (18th); and women’s suffrage (19th). Wilson vetoed the Volstead Act (the 18th amendment), believing it to be unenforceable, but the law, designed to enforce Prohibition, was passed over his veto. Two other amendments were ratified while Wilson was President: income tax (16th) was ratified in February 1913; and direct election of Senators (17th) was ratified on April 8, 1913.

With the country mired in the Great Depression by 1932, creating jobs and revenue by legalizing the liquor industry had an undeniable appeal. Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt ran for president that year on a platform calling for Prohibition’s appeal, and easily won victory over the incumbent President Herbert Hoover. FDR’s victory meant the end for Prohibition, and in February 1933 Congress adopted a resolution proposing a 21st Amendment to the Constitution that would repeal the 18th.