Booth at Hotel Statler, May 4, 1932

1932

The prohibition of the sale and consumption of alcohol did little to change behavior and resulted in increased criminality to meet the continued demand. Within five years of its passage, a new national campaign to repeal the 18th Amendment was underway. Again, a state-by-state strategy was pursued as the voters in this 1932 photograph at Boston’s Statler Hotel cast their ballots in favor of the 21st Amendment. This time, however, newly enfranchised women, thanks to the 19th Amendment, would help sway the electorate despite assumptions otherwise.