15 Things That Used to Be Illegal in the U.S. – But Are Now Part of Normal Life
It has been throughout history that we can clearly see much change within our society and the legal landscape of the United States. What was once considered illegal became a common practice in life, with many of the accepted rights of today being considered expected, from the Supreme Court’s 1967 legalizing of interracial marriage to its Loving v.Virginia.
These changes are representative of America’s standard evolving of the Virginia decision to the booming toleration of cannabis as medicinal and recreational. For instance, we do see a broader acceptance of various hues of colors as a result; by 2019, some 19% of newlywed couples in the US were interracial.
Alcohol Consumption
It was, indeed, as if it were a reality. What he and all prohibitionists wanted was the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol across all of America from 1920 to 1933. Because of this, liquor was sold quite openly in underground speakeasies, and the bootlegging industry flourished.
The 21st Amendment ratified the legal status of alcohol to the relief of much of the nation, effectively ending that era. According to the CDC, the average American drinks over 2.3 gallons of alcohol annually today. Hooray for history and progress!
Same-Sex Marriage
It’s unbelievable to consider that only eight years ago, same-sex marriage was still illegal in most parts of the US. That changed with the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges.
Today, according to the Public Religion Research Institute, more than 71% of Americans support marriage equality. Indeed, love is love, and the law finally agrees!
Blue Laws, Bye Bye — Sunday Shopping
Sundays were for church and rest, and we couldn’t shop. Once fully enacted across many states, blue laws shut the stores down on this holy day.
But by the latter part of the 20th century, most had been repealed, and today we’re free to get groceries, coffee, or that much-needed hangover remedy when we see fit.
Marijuana Use
Legal cannabis?! An observer of the 1930s would be hard to believe it. But as of 2023, cannabis is legal for medical use in 38 states and for recreational use in 23 states, the National Conference of State Legislatures said.
Fueled by dramatic changes in societal attitudes and decreasing stigma, this billion-dollar industry multiplied. That’s quite a transformation.
Interracial Marriage
It wasn’t until the decision in Loving v. Virginia that interracial marriage was legal throughout the United States. Indeed, prior to that ruling, 16 states prohibited mixed-race marriages.
Today, interracial households represent one of the fastest-growing demographics in America and are emblematic of a more general societal shift.
Once, only the wealthy had credit cards
Imagine a world where cash was the only payment option. But, of course, credit cards weren’t always an option. In fact, credit cards didn’t become popular among middle-class Americans until the mid-20th century.
Thanks to legislation such as the Consumer Credit Protection Act of 1968, credit cards are now commonplace for millions. You don’t leave home without one, right?
Women’s Rights to Vote
The 1920 19th Amendment granted women the legal right to vote. Prior to this, women did not have the right to vote. Today, the Census Bureau reports that over 68 percent of eligible women are registered voters, versus 65 percent of men.
Thanks, ladies, for empowering democracy and leading with strength and determination!
Homebrewing Beer!
Here’s one for the craft beer fans: Until 1978, it was illegal to brew beer at home. That all changed when President Jimmy Carter legalized homebrewing with his signature on a law that paved the way for what would become the craft beer industry.
To date, that has translated to more than 9,500 craft breweries nationwide. Cheers to that!
Yes, Beachwear was Scandalous, Bikinis Included
The bikini’s 1946 debut sent shockwaves. But into the 1950s, swimwear deemed “too revealing” was prohibited on many US beaches.
Fortunately, fashion evolved to usher in a tide of wardrobe liberation. Now bikinis rule the sand and surf.
Financial freedom for all – Credit Unions.
Before the 20th century, working Americans could hardly get any loans; but in 1934, the enactment of the Credit Union Act legalized credit unions and allowed a cooperative alternative to conventional banking.
Today, more than 130 million Americans consider credit unions their financial partner.
Gaming
A new study from the American Gaming Association, prepared by Oxford Economics, showcases the size of the U.S. casino gaming industry: $328.6 billion to the economy, supporting 1.8 million jobs with $104 billion in wages, and $52.7 billion in tax revenue for federal, state, and local governments.
Findings include the industry’s important role in job creation, economic growth, and attracting public funding.
Birth Control: A Private Revolution
The Comstock Act of 1873 criminalized the use of contraceptives. However, the Griswold v. Connecticut decision in 1965 eliminated those restrictions, permitting married couples to legally use birth control.
Today, roughly 65 percent of American women between 15 and 49 take some form of birth control, ushering reproductive power across the country.
Public Dancing – No, Really
And no, this is not the plot of a sequel to Footloose. Dancing used to be illegal in some US cities, and having a permit for running a dance hall used to cost considerably more compared to the license other nightclubs had to pay for.
Fortunately, we are past that. You can dance now, and without interruptions at the risk of any legal raid.
Ice Cream Cones on Sundays
Some cities, believe it or not, banned ice cream cones on Sundays. Why? It was a sinful indulgence, right?
Thankfully, sanity prevailed and we can now consume migrating towers of gelato-on Sunday or otherwise-with no legal or guilty feelings.
Women Wearing Pants in Public
Before World War II, women wearing pants was socially unacceptable and likely illegal. However, this began to change by the mid-20th century.
Pants are now, after all, a wardrobe staple and a symbol for women walking over the lines and defying stereotypes. “Who wears the pants?” We all do.
