The
prohibition movement in the United States began in the early 1800s
and by 1850 several states had passed laws that restricted or prevented
people drinking alcohol. Early campaigners for prohibition included
William Lloyd Garrison, Frances
E. Willard, Anna Howard Shaw, Carry
Nation and Ida Wise Smith.
Two powerful pressure groups, the Anti-Saloon
League and the Women's Christian Temperance
Union were also established in America. In 1869 members of the
temperance movement formed the Prohibition Party. Three years later
James Black of Pennsylvania became the
party's candidate for the presidency. He won 5,608 votes. Other candidates
included Green Clay Smith (1876 - 9,522 votes), Neal
Dow (1880 - 10,305), John St. John
(1884 - 150,369), Clinton Bowen Fisk (1888 - 249,506), John Bidwell
(1892 - 264,133), Joshua Levering (1896 - 132,007), John Granville
Woolley (1900 - 208,914), Silas Comfort Swallow (1904 -258,536), Eugene
Wilder Chafin (1908 - 253,840 and 1912 - 206,275) and James Franklin
Hanly (1916 - 220,506).
During
the First World War most people considered it
to be unpatriotic to use much needed grain to produce alcohol. Also,
several of the large brewers and distillers were of German origin.
Many business leaders believed their workers would be more productive
if alcohol could be withheld with them. John
D. Rockefeller, alone, donated over $350,000 into the Anti-Saloon
League.
Opinion on prohibition began to change and by January, 1919, 75% of
the states in America had approved the 18th Amendment which prohibited
the "sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors". This
became the law of the land when the Volstead
Act was passed in 1920.
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