Question

Why was the 18th amendment repealed by the 21st amendment?

Answer 1

The correct answer is: "It was unpopular with a majority of Americans and also difficult to enforce".

The 18th amendment to the US Constitution was issued in 1917 and declared a nationwide prohibition of intoxicating liquors, which banned both the production and sale of alcoholic beverages. Subsequently the Volstead Act was issued too, for the enforcement of this 18th amendment.

Although there was a decrease in alcohol consumption the enforcement of these regulations was extremely complicated, criminal organizations arose and started to sell alcohol in the black markets. Moreover, the public opinion started to reject the Prohibition in the 1920s decade. In 1932 President Franklin D. Roosevelt claimed for its derogation and in 1933 the 21st amendment to the US Contitution was passed to repeal the previous 18th amendment. It is the only time in the US history that one amendment is only issued to overrule a previous one.