1. BY HAILEY KITELINGER PROHIBITION

2. During the Progressive Era, people who were involved in the temperance movement believed that alcohol was the major cause of all social problems, including abuse and wasting money, and they wanted it outlawed.

3. Two main groups led this movement, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and the Anti-Saloon League. Although they were competitors, they both fought for the same purpose. They efforts would eventually pay off.

4. On January 17 th, 1920 at midnight, prohibition went into effect when the eighteenth amendment was passed. This amendment stated that the manufacture, sale, and distribution was outlawed. There were however, several loopholes.

5. Many people did not take prohibition seriously and still continued to drink at speakeasies, which were hidden saloons. The speakeasies were able to get their illegal liquor from bootleggers, who smuggled the liquor into the country.

6. One of the most famous bootleggers was Alphonse (Al) Capone. Capone became the most powerful bootlegger in Chicago and had many people working for him. He was able to stay on top because he would murder and competitors.

7. Prohibition would eventually come to an end in 1933 when the twenty first amendment repealed it. Many consider prohibition to be a failure. However, everyone is open to their own opinion. All we know is it was a short lived “noble experiment”.