By today’s standards, the idea of a constitutional amendment banning alcohol in the U.S. seems preposterous, oppressive, and just plain naïve. But 92 years ago, when the National Prohibition Act passed, it was widely backed. Of course, Prohibition was eventually repealed, but not before it had far-reaching consequences on American gender relations, crime, popular culture, and politics. A new three-part documentary series called "Prohibition" tells this uniquely American story on PBS, beginning October 2.

Bootlegging was written into the U.S. constitution 90 years ago today. On January 16, 1920, the prohibitionists finally got what they had been fighting for decades: the federal government had banned the manufacture and sale of alcohol. The prohibition movement had be active since 1810 and its legacy is still visible today.