The Twenty First Amendment to the United States Constitution is an important amendment that was ratified on December 5, 1933. It repealed the Eighteenth Amendment, which had established Prohibition in the United States.
The repeal of Prohibition was seen as a victory for individual liberty, as it restored the right of adult Americans to consume alcohol.
The Twenty First Amendment is unique in that it is the only amendment to the United States Constitution that was ratified by state conventions rather than by state legislatures.
It also gives each state the power to regulate the sale and distribution of alcohol within its own borders. The repeal of Prohibition was a significant event in American history, with broad bipartisan support, and is celebrated every year on December 5th.
21st Amendment Facts
1. It was ratified on December 5, 1933.
The Twenty First Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on December 5, 1933, officially repealing the Eighteenth Amendment and ending Prohibition in the United States.
2. The Twenty First Amendment repealed the Eighteenth Amendment
The Eighteenth Amendment, which was ratified in 1919, had prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol in the United States.
Also Read: Facts About the Twentieth Amendment
The Twenty First Amendment, which was ratified in 1933, repealed the Eighteenth Amendment and ended Prohibition, restoring the right of adult Americans to consume alcohol.
3. The repeal of Prohibition was seen as a victory for individual liberty
The repeal of Prohibition was widely seen as a victory for individual liberty because it restored the right of adult Americans to consume alcohol.
Also Read: Facts About Prohibition
The prohibition of alcohol had been a controversial issue and was widely flouted, leading to a rise in organized crime and other illegal activities.
The repeal of Prohibition was seen as a way to restore personal freedoms and end the black market for alcohol, which had been a major problem during the Prohibition era.
4. It is the only amendment that was ratified by state conventions rather than by state legislatures.
The ratification process for the Twenty First Amendment was unique in that it was the only amendment to the United States Constitution that was ratified by state conventions rather than by state legislatures.
Also Read: 22nd Amendment Facts
The decision to ratify the amendment by state conventions was made by Congress as a way to speed up the ratification process, as it was believed that state conventions would be more likely to approve the amendment than state legislatures.
This approach proved successful, as the Twenty First Amendment was quickly ratified by the necessary number of states and became part of the United States Constitution.
5. The Twenty First Amendment gives each state the power to regulate the sale and distribution of alcohol within its own borders.
The Twenty First Amendment gives each state the power to regulate the sale and distribution of alcohol within its own borders.
This means that each state can establish its own laws and regulations related to the sale, distribution, and consumption of alcohol, as long as they do not conflict with federal laws.
The Twenty First Amendment effectively ended federal control over alcohol regulation and left it up to the individual states to determine their own policies. As a result, there is a great deal of variation in alcohol laws and regulations across the United States.
6. The text of the Twenty First Amendment is brief and to the point, consisting of just two sections.
The text of the Twenty First Amendment is very brief and consists of just two sections.
The first section reads:
“The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.”
This section effectively repeals the Eighteenth Amendment and ends Prohibition.
The second section of the Twenty First Amendment reads:
“The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.”
This section gives each state the power to regulate the transportation and importation of alcohol into their own state and allows them to enforce their own alcohol laws.
7. The Twenty First Amendment was proposed by Congress in February 1933
The Twenty First Amendment was proposed by Congress on February 20, 1933, and was quickly ratified by the necessary number of states.
The amendment was ratified in less than a year, with the required 36 states approving it by December 5, 1933. This was a very short period of time for ratification, especially considering the contentious nature of the issue of alcohol regulation in the United States.
The rapid ratification of the Twenty First Amendment was largely due to the widespread public sentiment in favor of ending Prohibition, as well as the fact that the amendment had broad bipartisan support in Congress.
8. The repeal of Prohibition was seen as a boost to the economy
The repeal of Prohibition was seen as a boost to the economy, as it created jobs in the alcohol industry and generated tax revenue for the government.
The alcohol industry had been a major source of jobs and tax revenue before Prohibition, and the repeal of Prohibition helped to revive the industry and create new jobs.
In addition, the government was able to collect taxes on the sale and distribution of alcohol, which provided a new source of revenue at a time when the country was struggling with the Great Depression.
The repeal of Prohibition was seen as a win-win for both the government and the alcohol industry, and it helped to stimulate economic growth and recovery in the United States.
9. The Twenty First Amendment had broad bipartisan support
The Twenty First Amendment had broad bipartisan support, with both Democrats and Republicans coming together to pass it.
The repeal of Prohibition was a widely popular issue and had support from a broad range of political and social groups, including labor unions, women’s groups, and business organizations.
The fact that the amendment was ratified by state conventions rather than by state legislatures also helped to speed up the ratification process and avoid partisan politics.
The repeal of Prohibition was seen as a rare moment of bipartisan cooperation in American politics, and it remains an example of what can be achieved when politicians put aside their differences and work together for the common good.
10. The repeal of Prohibition is celebrated every year on December 5th
The repeal of Prohibition is celebrated every year on December 5th, which is the day that the Twenty First Amendment was ratified.
This day is known as Repeal Day, and it is celebrated by many people in the United States as a way to commemorate the end of Prohibition and the restoration of individual liberties related to alcohol consumption.
Repeal Day celebrations often involve the consumption of alcohol, as well as educational events and discussions related to the history of Prohibition and the impact of the Twenty First Amendment.
Repeal Day is a reminder of the importance of personal freedoms and the need to balance individual rights with societal responsibilities.