brunslo.com ). .
Prohibition advocates first organization was the Anti-Saloon League, which extremely strengthened the prohibition movement. Many other organizations were formed but the Anti-Saloon League and the Women's Christian Temperance Union were the largest of temperance organizations. Prohibition was popular in local laws, but in 1913 at the Twentieth anniversary convention in Columbus, Ohio, the league proclaimed the campaign to get national prohibition as a constitutional amendment("The Anti-Saloon League" http:www.history.ohio-state.edu ).
With World War I as a distraction, and proclaiming prohibition a suitable national sacrifice, Congress accepted the 18th amendment to the constitution. Many Americans who were not for prohibition continued to fight because the amendment still had to be ratified. However, by January of 1919 the amendment had been ratified by all states except Connecticut and Rhode Island. The 18th amendment became the amendment with the highest approval rating of all previous constitutional amendments. Now that prohibition had passed, what would be the terms for enforcement? The Volstead Act, introduced to Congress by Andrew Volstead, was vetoed by President Wilson but passed by Congress in October of 1919. The Volstead Act stated that "intoxicating liquor" was any beverage containing more than one half percent alcohol("Prohibition in America" http://www.americanhistory.about.com ). For being found guilty there was an $1,000 fine or six months jail time(Collin 1526). Warren Harding supported the act and got it passed through the Senate, even though he was a big drinker("Prohibition in America" http://www.americanhistory.about.com ). .
With the 18th amendment ratified and the Volstead Act for enforcement, some Americans saw their dreams come true while others felt as if they were living a nightmare. The Volstead Act left much room for circumventing of the law.
