on february 19, 1881, kansas became the first state to make alcohol illegal. this started with the temperance movement. after 1890, prohibition and progressivism came together. this created a reform movement. this movement led to four reformist governors being elected from 1905 to 1919. those governors wanted extreme prohibitionist laws. kansas did not make alcohol legal again until 1948. kansas did not allow public bars to be legal until 1987. kansas did not allow people to buy alcohol on sundays until 2005. many cities still do not allow that. 29 counties in kansas are considered "dry."