The 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on December 5, 1933. It repealed the 18th Amendment, which had established the prohibition of alcohol in the U.S. This amendment marked the end of a nationwide ban on the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages, allowing states to regulate alcohol as they saw fit. The passage of the 21st Amendment was largely a response to the negative effects of prohibition, including the rise of illegal speakeasies and organized crime. By restoring legal alcohol sales, the amendment aimed to reduce crime and generate tax revenue during the Great Depression.