This Day in History January 16, 1920

It was on this date in 1920, that the Volstead Act was passed by Congress.  What was that?  It is what began Prohibition.  Congress actually overrode President Wilson's veto.  For thirteen years, America was "dry."  Yeah, and we know how well that worked!  It was repealed in 1933.

For more information:
http://famousdaily.com/history/volstead-act-passes-beginning-prohibition.html
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1086.html

This Day in History November 29, 1933

You might remember that the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibited the sale of alcohol.  This was soon overturned, and it was on this date in 1933, that the first liquor store in the U.S. was authorized to open.  Pennsylvania was the site of the first liquor store in the U.S.  Four days before the first store was opened, the Pennsylvania Liquor Board was organized, and its entire purpose was the discourage the sale of liquor by making it expensive and inconvenient.  I don't think it worked very well!

For more information:
http://famousdaily.com/history/liquor-stores-authorized-in-us.html