<P> Prohibition in the United States was a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages from 1920 to 1933 . </P> <P> During the 19th century, alcoholism, family violence, and saloon - based political corruption prompted activists, led by pietistic Protestants, to end the alcoholic beverage trade to cure the ill society and weaken the political opposition . One result was that many communities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries introduced alcohol prohibition, with the subsequent enforcement in law becoming a hotly debated issue . Prohibition supporters, called "drys", presented it as a victory for public morals and health . </P> <P> Promoted by the "dry" crusaders, the movement was led by pietistic Protestants and social Progressives in the Prohibition, Democratic, and Republican parties . It gained a national grass roots base through the Woman's Christian Temperance Union . After 1900 it was coordinated by the Anti-Saloon League . Opposition from the beer industry mobilized "wet" supporters from the Catholic and German Lutheran communities . They had funding to fight back but by 1917--18 the German community had been marginalized by the nation's war against Germany, and the brewing industry was shut down in state after state by the legislatures and finally nationwide under the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1920 . Enabling legislation, known as the Volstead Act, set down the rules for enforcing the federal ban and defined the types of alcoholic beverages that were prohibited . For example, religious use of wine was allowed . Private ownership and consumption of alcohol were not made illegal under federal law, but local laws were stricter in many areas, with some states banning possession outright . </P>

What was the intended purpose of prohibiting alcohol in america
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