Political factors were crucial to the timing of prohibition repeal. This is because there was a presidential election in 1932 and Roosevelt and the Democrats stood for the repeal of prohibition.

Roosevelt promised a New Deal to put America back to work and restore to economy. By repealing prohibition Roosevelt could tax the liquor and use that tax to provide job schemes.

As Roosevelt was legalising alcohol and providing job scheme to help the economy, he was elected. When the election took place in 1932, it takes 100 days for the new president to be installed. This is because America is a big country and it took that long to gather all the votes together and count them.

So Roosevelt actually got into power in 1933 although he didn’t repeal prohibition until December. This was because the first thing he wanted to do was the repair the American economy, and his main policy for election was the New Deal. Therefore after he had dealt with the economy he then could have a referendum on prohibition. When he did, the vote was 73% in favour of repeal.

This is why politics was crucial to the timing of prohibition repeal.

What do you think of politics and prohibition?