Why weren’t the “wet” demographics able to stop the 18th amendment?

[darklordoftech]

Why weren’t the Irish, Italians, Germans, etc., able to stop the 18th amendment from getting ratified by Congress and all those states?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The Germans had been sidelined by World War I for one thing.

The Southern dominated Democratic Party under anglophile Wilson also didn't help in terms of that party being an effective vehicle for them. And of course the Republicans had long led the charge on the issue.

[darklordoftech]

The Southern dominated Democratic Party under anglophile Wilson also didn't help in terms of that party being an effective vehicle for them.

Ironically, Wilson himself was a “wet”.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The Southern dominated Democratic Party under anglophile Wilson also didn't help in terms of that party being an effective vehicle for them.

Ironically, Wilson himself was a “wet”.

For a variety of reasons though, the base he cultivated and the voters he also alienated, helped to make the Dems more dry.

[darklordoftech]

The Southern dominated Democratic Party under anglophile Wilson also didn't help in terms of that party being an effective vehicle for them.

Ironically, Wilson himself was a “wet”.

For a variety of reasons though, the base he cultivated and the voters he also alienated, helped to make the Dems more dry.

I could see the demographics who supported the Palmer Raids tending to be “dry” and the demographics who opposed the Palmer Raids tending to be “wet”.

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

If I remember correctly, Congressional reapportionment after the 1920 census significantly increased these groups' share of the seats in the House, which is why passing the amendment in 1919 was so critical.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

If I remember correctly, Congressional reapportionment after the 1920 census significantly increased these groups' share of the seats in the House, which is why passing the amendment in 1919 was so critical.

Yeah, that was a big part of it.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

If I remember correctly, Congressional reapportionment after the 1920 census significantly increased these groups' share of the seats in the House, which is why passing the amendment in 1919 was so critical.

What reapportionment? Congress failed to agree on how to reapportion, so it wasn't done.  It wasn't until the Reapportionment Act of 1929 that a fixed apportionment process was put in place.

[Skill and Chance]

If I remember correctly, Congressional reapportionment after the 1920 census significantly increased these groups' share of the seats in the House, which is why passing the amendment in 1919 was so critical.

What reapportionment? Congress failed to agree on how to reapportion, so it wasn't done.  It wasn't until the Reapportionment Act of 1929 that a fixed apportionment process was put in place.

This.  I would go so far as to say malapportionment was the entire reason Prohibition happened.  Had SCOTUS/Congress enforced OMOV from the Reconstruction era onward, the 18th Amendment would have never come close to passage.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

If I remember correctly, Congressional reapportionment after the 1920 census significantly increased these groups' share of the seats in the House, which is why passing the amendment in 1919 was so critical.

What reapportionment? Congress failed to agree on how to reapportion, so it wasn't done.  It wasn't until the Reapportionment Act of 1929 that a fixed apportionment process was put in place.

This.  I would go so far as to say malapportionment was the entire reason Prohibition happened.  Had SCOTUS/Congress enforced OMOV from the Reconstruction era onward, the 18th Amendment would have never come close to passage.

Given where the opposition to Prohibition was strongest, I think if OMOV had been enforced then in the way we do now, it might have been enacted sooner, but certainly not kept from passing.

[KoopaDaQuick 🇵🇸]

Because they chose to call themselves “wet” instead of “moist” like civilized people.

[darklordoftech]

Because they chose to call themselves “wet” instead of “moist” like civilized people.

I love your username.