During the early 1900’s a national debate over prohibition was born. People for prohibition debated that alcohol was not morally correct and anti-prohibitionists lobbied that it was a freedom to drink and Prohibition would not stop people from drinking. Prohibitionists had convincing data to back them up. In 1909 there were more bars in Chicago than there were in the entire south. Quickly this movement ratified in many states. By 1919 out of 48 states only two had not ratified prohibition. After the states ratified Prohibition, the federal battle began. Although William Jennings Bryan stated clearly stated that he was for Prohibition, both Roosevelt and Wilson made their position unclear. At one point both sides of the issue believed that Roosevelt was on their side. Wilson, on the other hand, did not make his position clear until after he was elected in 1912. After the election he made it clear that he was for prohibition and all that came with it. However it was not until war broke out that the government took serious action. People for the ratification of prohibition said since the soldiers were willing to die fighting, Americans should be ready to give up alcohol. Prohibition ended up becoming a moral issue, good vs. bad, prohibition vs. no prohibition, and the congress sided with prohibition and ratified the 18th amendment in 1917.