16 January - The 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution

The 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified on 16 January 1919, and effective a year later, marked the beginning of Prohibition. It imposed a nationwide ban on the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages, reflecting the influence of the temperance movement, which advocated for alcohol prohibition to curb social issues such as crime, domestic violence, and poverty. The Volstead Act was enacted to enforce the amendment, but it faced widespread resistance. Prohibition led to the rise of illegal speakeasies, bootlegging operations, and organized crime syndicates, with figures like Al Capone becoming infamous. Despite its intent to improve social conditions, Prohibition often had the opposite effect, straining law enforcement and fostering a culture of defiance. The widespread unpopularity of the amendment eventually led to its repeal with the 21st Amendment in 1933, ending a tumultuous chapter in American history.