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1920 - Prohibition Begins in the U.S.

By Jennifer Rosenberg, About.com

Prohibition Begins in the U.S. (1920): Beginning in the 19th century, many people, especially women, blamed many of society's problems upon alcohol. With the hope of bettering society, organizations were formed to advocate against the consumption of alcohol. By the beginning of the 20th century, many states had already created state laws banning alcohol. On January 16, 1919, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. Exactly one year later (January 16, 1920), this Amendment went into affect, making the manufacture, sale, and transportation of liquor illegal and beginning Prohibition in the United States.

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