Temperance & Prohibition Movement

Amendments 18 and 21 Prohibition and Repeal (12:27) The U.S. Constitution is the world’s oldest written charter of government in continuous effect. Much of the success of this document can be attributed to the way the Constitution has changed to meet the needs of the American people. The framers of the Constitution wisely anticipated the need to make changes to the Constitution as the world itself changed. Between 1787, when the Constitution was written, and the present time, thousands of proposed amendments have been introduced in Congress. But in that time, only 27 of those proposed amendments have been ratified. These 27 amendments tell some of the most important stories in American political, social, and cultural history. They tell the story of the founding principles of the American nation, and how that nation has changed. This comprehensive series explores each amendment, its origins, its real-world applications, its history of interpretation in the nation’s courts, and its implications for the future. Combining computer graphics, original live-action video, historical artwork, and archival footage with narration and interviews, each program reveals an important chapter in the ongoing history of the U.S. Constitution.

America Dries Up (02:09) The Temperance Movement spent years lobbying to stop alcohol consumption. The 18th Amendment was ratified in 1920 and banned the manufacturing, transporting, and selling of alcohol. Prohibition created a network of bootleggers and speakeasies, some controlled by criminal organizations.

American Temperance Society (03:24) Penitentiaries were created and this system embodied the belief that the environment shaped behavior. Temperance was one of the key objectives of the moral reform enterprise.

Prohibition Series: Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (3 Episodes) Prohibition, a three-part documentary series, explores the extraordinary story of what happens when a freedom-loving nation outlaws the sale of intoxicating liquor—and the disastrous unintended consequences that follow. This cautionary tale raises profound questions about the proper role of government and the limits of legislating morality. It is also a darker story about what happens when lobbyists divide the country with wedge issues; the contempt unleashed by smear campaigns; and the perils of unfunded mandates. Distributed by PBS Distribution. 3-part series, 120 minutes each.