More than one hundred years ago, prohibition was enshrined in the U.S. Constitution under the 18th Amendment. The Volstead Act allowed the federal government to enforce the new amendment. States passed their own prohibition laws and on June 27, 1921, Illinois passed the “Illinois Prohibition Act” to establish uniformity with the federal law. However, enforcement proved difficult, as many people resorted to bootlegging and speakeasies to obtain liquor illegally.