This Date in History

October 28

Congress enforces prohibition
1919

Congress passes the Volstead Act over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. The Volstead Act provided for the enforcement of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, also known as the Prohibition Amendment.

The movement for the prohibition of alcohol began in the early 19th century, when Americans concerned about the adverse effects of drinking began forming temperance societies. By the late 19th century, these groups had become a powerful political force, campaigning on the state level and calling for national liquor abstinence. In December 1917, the 18th Amendment, prohibiting the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes," was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. In January 1919, the 18th amendment achieved the necessary two-thirds majority of state ratification, and prohibition became the law of the land.

The Volstead Act, passed nine months later, provided for the enforcement of prohibition, including the creation of a special unit of the Treasury Department. Despite a vigorous effort by law-enforcement agencies, the Volstead Act failed to prevent the large-scale distribution of alcoholic beverages, and organized crime flourished in America. In 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was passed and ratified, repealing prohibition.


Gateway Arch completed
1965

The Gateway Arch, a spectacular 630-foot-tall parabolic arch made of steel, is completed as part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial on the waterfront of St. Louis, Missouri. The arch, designed by Finnish-born U.S. architect Eero Saarinen, was erected to commemorate President Thomas Jefferson's Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and to celebrate St. Louis' central role in the subsequent westward expansion of America.

The Gateway Arch has foundations sunken 60 feet into the ground and is built to withstand earthquakes and high winds. An internal tram system takes visitors up to the top. Saarinen, who died in 1961, did not live to see the completion of his architectural masterpiece, but in 1967 his widow attended the formal dedication of the monument.