The 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1919, aimed to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States. This period, known as Prohibition, reflected a broader social movement advocating for temperance, which sought to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption due to its perceived negative effects on society, including crime, domestic violence, and health issues.
The goal was to create a more disciplined and moral society by reducing alcohol-related problems. However, the amendment ultimately led to many unintended consequences, including the rise of illegal speakeasies, bootlegging, and organized crime. Due to these issues and the difficulty in enforcing the law, the 18th Amendment was eventually repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933.