THE PARTY
A Tradition of Reform - since 1869
The Prohibition Party is the oldest living 3rd party in the United States. We have run a slate of candidates in every presidential election since 1872. Ours is a party of reform, with centrist democratic ideals.
The Prohibition Party (PRO) is a political party in the United States known for its support of social reforms and historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages; it is an integral part of the temperance movement. It is the oldest existing third party in the United States and overall the third-longest active party in the country.
Although it was never one of the leading parties in the United States, it was once an important force in the Third Party System during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Party support waned following the enactment of Prohibition in the United States but saw a rise in vote totals following the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1933. In 1948 its presidential candidate received over 100,000 votes
In the last few decades however, the rules surrounding ballot access began to change. It has become far more challenging for third parties to appear on the ballot in all 50 states. These restrictions have resulted in the party appearing on fewer and fewer state ballots, with a corresponding decline in total votes received.
Although best known for our signature issue, we are not only a one-platform-party.
A look back at our 1908 party platform shows that we campaigned for:
- Equal voter rights; 11 years before women earned the right to vote
- Direct election of Senators; 5 years before implementation
- A fairer, graduated income tax; 5 years before it became law
- The guarantee of bank deposits; 26 years before enactment
- Workers comp insurance; 41 years before it was law nationwide
- The outlaw of child labor in mines; 30 years before it became law nationwide
- Protection of our natural resources, 8 yrs before the creation of the National Park Service.
The 1940s saw our best performance in the last 100 years. The 1948 platform included:
- Separation of Church & State
- Economy in Government
- Tax Reduction
- Justice and Equal Opportunity for all races
- Congressional oversight of Monetary Policy
- The End of Peacetime Conscription
- Conserving Social Security
- Supporting Farmers and Laborers
- Elimination of the Liquor Traffic
In 1948, with this platform, Claude Watson received more than 100,000 votes – our only
candidate to do so in the last 100 years. We cannot simply duplicate his platform and expect
similar results. Times are changing. People no longer wish to be “told” what to do – education
is the key to ensuring a culture of personal responsibility.
As we move forward towards 2024, we are working to build a party platform that
moves away from the failures of the past and appeals with a positive reform
message more directly to the constituents of today.
The Prohibition Party (PRO) is a political party in the United States known for its support of social reforms and historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages; it is an integral part of the temperance movement. It is the oldest existing third party in the United States and overall the third-longest active party in the country.
Although it was never one of the leading parties in the United States, it was once an important force in the Third Party System during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Party support waned following the enactment of Prohibition in the United States but saw a rise in vote totals following the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1933. In 1948 its presidential candidate received over 100,000 votes
In the last few decades however, the rules surrounding ballot access began to change. It has become far more challenging for third parties to appear on the ballot in all 50 states. These restrictions have resulted in the party appearing on fewer and fewer state ballots, with a corresponding decline in total votes received.
Although best known for our signature issue, we are not only a one-platform-party.
A look back at our 1908 party platform shows that we campaigned for:
- Equal voter rights; 11 years before women earned the right to vote
- Direct election of Senators; 5 years before implementation
- A fairer, graduated income tax; 5 years before it became law
- The guarantee of bank deposits; 26 years before enactment
- Workers comp insurance; 41 years before it was law nationwide
- The outlaw of child labor in mines; 30 years before it became law nationwide
- Protection of our natural resources, 8 yrs before the creation of the National Park Service.
The 1940s saw our best performance in the last 100 years. The 1948 platform included:
- Separation of Church & State
- Economy in Government
- Tax Reduction
- Justice and Equal Opportunity for all races
- Congressional oversight of Monetary Policy
- The End of Peacetime Conscription
- Conserving Social Security
- Supporting Farmers and Laborers
- Elimination of the Liquor Traffic
In 1948, with this platform, Claude Watson received more than 100,000 votes – our only
candidate to do so in the last 100 years. We cannot simply duplicate his platform and expect
similar results. Times are changing. People no longer wish to be “told” what to do – education
is the key to ensuring a culture of personal responsibility.
As we move forward towards 2024, we are working to build a party platform that
moves away from the failures of the past and appeals with a positive reform
message more directly to the constituents of today.
For more information about the history of the Prohibition Party, please visit our sister website.
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External logos are copyrighted by the respective organizations.