The Volstead Act's passage marks the beginning of Prohibition in the United States. This fateful decision saw the outlaw of intoxicating liquors from 1920 to 1933, leading to a thriving underground culture of bootleggers, gangsters, and corrupt officials. In The Great Illusion, esteemed author Herbert Asbury provides an insightful and thorough examination of this era, delving into its origins in colonial times and its transformation into a religious crusade. While many Americans supported the ban as a faithful act, the reality was far from ideal, with criminal syndicates and illegal trade becoming widespread and corrupting society. Through this comprehensive work, Asbury shines a light on the moral decline of the time, exposing the activities of rumrunners, politicians, and police who all played a role in the failure of Prohibition.