Final answer:
Prohibition was supported by Progressives and Christian Moralists. The Eighteenth Amendment, influenced by groups like the WCTU and Anti-Saloon League, banned alcohol but was difficult to enforce, leading to its later repeal.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prohibition and Its Support: The Progressive Era and Christian Moralists
During the early 20th century, Prohibition became a significant movement in the United States, supported by Progressives and Christian Moralists. This movement led to the ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1919, which banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. The support for Prohibition was largely influenced by the social and moral concerns of the time, where alcohol was viewed as a source of societal ills, including domestic abuse and political corruption. The influence of organizations such as the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and the Anti-Saloon League was crucial in the eventual passing of this amendment.
The Prohibition movement was a testament to the Progressive belief in "applied Christianity," also known as the Social Gospel Movement. The movement illustrated how societal reform was intertwined with religious morality. It also highlighted the political schism within the Democratic Party, as rural "dries" favored the amendment, while urban "wets" opposed it, leading to the Republican Party's rise in the 1920s. Despite legislation, enforcement proved to be a significant challenge, which eventually led to the repeal of Prohibition with the Twenty-first Amendment in 1933.