Volstead Act

Definition

The Volstead Act, officially known as the National Prohibition Act, was a law passed by Congress in 1919 to provide for the enforcement of the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States.

Related terms

Prohibition: This was a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. It lasted from 1920 to 1933 and was mandated by the 18th Amendment.

Speakeasies: These were secret bars or clubs that illegally sold alcohol during Prohibition. They were often hidden behind soda shops or other legitimate businesses.

Bootlegging: This refers to the illegal business of smuggling alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law.