On December 5, 1933, 75 years ago today, Congress ratified the 21st Amendment of the United States Constitution. This officially ended the almost 14 year of Prohibition, which began with the 18th Amendment signed on January 16, 1919.
Amendment 21: Amendment 18 Repealed
Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.
Section 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or
possession of the United States for delivery or use there in of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
There are several factors which led to the repeal of the 18th Amendment. The most important probably being that organized crime rose dramatically during Prohibition. One of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s top platforms when running for President was to repeal of Prohibition.
At 7 pm on December 5, 1933, FDR officially legalized alcohol. An hour later, whiskey was delivered to his hotel room in New Orleans.
In the words of President Roosevelt, “What America needs now is a drink”. Raise a glass today and have a great weekend.