Volstead Act - Definition and Overview

The National Prohibition Act of 1919, more popularly known as the Volstead Act, enforced the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, dealing with the prohibition of alcohol. The Act is named for Andrew Volstead, a Republican representative from Minnesota.

In doing so, it defined the term "beer, wine, or other intoxicating malt or vinous liquors" to mean any beverage with greater than 0.5% alcohol by volume. It was passed by the U.S. Congress on October 28, 1919 over the veto by President Woodrow Wilson. It went into effect with the Eighteenth Amendment on January 16, 1920.

External links

• An image of the Volstead Act text (http://www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/lessons/volstead_act/images/volstead_act.jpg)
• The Volstead act on archives.gov (http://www.archives.gov/digital_classroom/lessons/volstead_act/volstead_act.html)