The Prohibition Party is a political party in the United States. As the name implies, the party advocates the prohibition of the use of beverages containing alcohol. While never one of the nation's leading parties, it was an important force in US politics in the late 19th century and the early years of the 20th century.

The party was founded in 1867. Its first National Committee Chairman was John Russell of Michigan, who served from 1867-1872. The party succeeded in getting many communities and a number of states to outlaw the production and sale of intoxicating beverages. The party's greatest success was in 1919, with the passage of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which outlawed the production, sale, transportation, import, and export of alcohol. The era of illegal alcohol in the USA is generally known as "Prohibition". The enactment of national prohibition took away the party's main issue, and the party declined in importance. The "Prohibition" era saw the rise of "Speakeasies", bootleggers, and a great growth of organized crime. By the start of the Great Depression, the cause of prohibition was considered discredited by much of the public. National prohibition was repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933. While hardline prohibitionists objected, the US Prohibition Party declined into insignificance.

From 1977 to 1980, the party was called the National Statesman Party. The party still exists today. Although, its following is small, and since 2003, there has been a schism between supporters and opponents of longtime party chairman Earl Dodge. It has nominated a candidate for president in every election since 1872, and is thus the longest-lived American political party after the Democrats and Republicans.

Presidential candidates

• 1872 - James Black
• 1876 - Green Clay Smith
• 1880 - Neal Dow
• 1884 - John Saint John
• 1888 - Clinton B. Fisk
• 1892 - John Bidwell
• 1896 - Joshua Levering
• 1900 - John G. Woolley
• 1904 - Silas C. Swallow
• 1908 - Eugene W. Chafin
• 1912 - Eugene W. Chafin
• 1916 - Frank Hanly
• 1920 - Aaron Watkins
• 1924 - Herman P. Faris
• 1928 - William F. Varney
• 1932 - William Upshaw
• 1936 - Leigh Colvin
• 1940 - Roger Babson
• 1944 - Claude Watson
• 1948 - Claude Watson
• 1952 - Stuart Hamblen
• 1956 - Enoch A. Holtwick
• 1960 - Rutherford Decker
• 1964 - Harold Munn
• 1968 - Harold Munn
• 1972 - Harold Munn
• 1976 - Benjamin C. Bubar
• 1980 - Benjamin C. Bubar
• 1984 - Earl Dodge
• 1988 - Earl Dodge
• 1992 - Earl Dodge
• 1996 - Earl Dodge
• 2000 - Earl Dodge
• 2004 - Earl Dodge, Gene Amondson

See also: List of political parties in the United States

External links

• Prohibition Party Website (pro-Dodge)
• Prohibition Party Website (anti-Dodge)