Americans Against Prohibition Association

A non-partisan group named without consideration for a snappy acronym. This group really wanted Prohibition repealed, which it was.

Anti-Saloon League

A non-partisan group at the forefront of the fight for Prohibition. An enemy of cowboys and saloon-lovers everywhere, they got their coalition of voters to support dry candidates and packed Congress with Prohibition-friendly lawmakers.

Bootlegging

The illegal manufacture, transportation, and selling of liquor. Named because people liked to keep flasks in the legs of their pants, presumably to look ridiculous while pouring drinks, because this was before L.L. Bean started selling cargo pants.

Dry

Either someone who supports making alcohol illegal, or a place where alcohol is illegal. The opposite of wet.

Internal Revenue Service

More familiar by the abbreviation IRS, this widely-hated government group was in charge of enforcing Prohibition. Think Eliot Ness and his "Untouchables."

John Barleycorn

A personification of the evils of liquor as a whole. This proves that old people were adorable even when they were young people.

Justice Department

The Justice Department took over enforcement of the Volstead Act from the IRS, which was probably quite confused about why it had it to begin with.

Prohibition

This is a general term, meaning "You don't get to do this because of the law." It has come to mean the prohibition of alcohol under the 18th Amendment from 1919-1933. Generally speaking, small-p prohibition is the general concept, and capital-P Prohibition is this specific era in history.

St. Valentine's Day Massacre

A bloody mob assassination on Valentine's Day in 1929 that many people point to as a flashpoint event getting public opinion to turn against the gang violence spurred by Prohibition. It's also a good indicator that Al Capone was terrible at Valentine's Day gifts.

Temperance Societies

Religious and social-reform groups dedicated to not drinking and getting everyone else to stop, too. This is one of the few groups to organize around the lack of a hobby.

Volstead Act

The National Prohibition Act, which was the enforcement arm of the 18th Amendment. Named after Andrew J. Volstead, Republican representative from Minnesota, and chair of the House Judiciary Committee. Passed in 1919 over President Wilson's veto, it fleshed out the details of the 18th Amendment and laid out exceptions to the Amendment, like limited home brewing, use of alcohol for medicinal purposes (yeah, right), sacramental use, and manufacturing.

Wet

Either someone who thinks alcohol should be legal, or a place where alcohol is legal. The opposite of dry.