Prohibition

America’s failed experiment

Alcohol has always been part of the American diet.

Bad water, part of ethnic cultures, easily available, cheap, and of course, addicting!

Temperance Movement- Started in 1830’s by women whose husbands beat them and neglected family. Cause? Alcohol!

Several “dry” counties result.

1919- 18th amendment is ratified. Prohibits (outlaws) production, possession, sale, or consumption of alcohol.

Some make “bathtub gin.” Build stills in woods.

This alcohol was BAD, sometimes folks were poisoned or went blind.

Alcohol was smuggled from Canada on speed boats across the Great Lakes.

Brand of Moonshine made in Stearns County, Minnesota◦ Was safe◦ Drank everywhere from New York to San Francisco

In Stearns County during Prohibition◦ 80% of people were involved in some way with

bootlegging. Bootlegging: make, sell, or distribute alcohol illegally

◦ Most knew it was going on There would be a “liquor cloud” over the farms that

were taking part◦ Why so many?

Hard for farmers at the time 100 lb calf = $5 1 gallon of moonshine = $5

Instead of being foreclosed on, farmers could stay open

Organized crime (gangsters, the Mob) see a market and move to exploit it.

Bootleg whisky is sold undercover. Best smugglers? Children!

Still, gangsters become heroes, and disrespect for law and police grows.

People resent government for interfering in their lives and their attempts to simply have fun.

During the depression we need the alcohol industry for jobs and taxes. And to limit the impact of organized crime.

“You cannot legislate morality.” U.S. learns a lesson about the limits of progressivism