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The History of Prohibition

The History of Prohibition . Brief History. Origin?. May 1657 General Court of Massachusetts made the sale of strong alcohol illegal A gift? Common belief that alcohol was a gift from God, but its abuse was a curse from the Devil Dr. Benjamin Rush

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The History of Prohibition

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  1. The History of Prohibition

  2. Brief History

  3. Origin? • May 1657 • General Court of Massachusetts made the sale of strong alcohol illegal • A gift? • Common belief that alcohol was a gift from God, but its abuse was a curse from the Devil • Dr. Benjamin Rush • In 1784, argued that excessive use was injurious to physical and psychological health

  4. And it continues… • 1789, temperance association formed by 200 farmers in CT • Based on the statements of Dr. Rush • 1800 Virginia • 1808 New York • Within the next decade, 15 more organizations formed to ban alcohol

  5. The “DRY” Movement • 1840s • Religious men (esp. Methodists) • Began as abstaining from drinking alcohol but spread to focus on any institutions related to alcohol consumption • Preachers likened liquor-dispensing saloons with to prostitution

  6. (continued…) • 1850s • Maine totally banned the manufacture and sale of liquor (adopted in 1851) • Movement lost momentum… • Temperance of alcohol was not a major political issue during the American Civil War

  7. It’s Alive!!! • However, it revived in the 1880s with the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and Prohibition Party • WCTU • Founded in 1873, did not promote moderation or temperance but prohibition • “get to children”

  8. It’s Official • 1881-Kansas • Carrie Nation • Singing, praying, pestering

  9. Politics & Hate (Post-WWI) • German culture valued alcohol • Post WWI attitudes in the US were not pro-German • Anti-Saloon League intensely lobbied and pushed for what later became our 18th Constitutional Amendment (1920)

  10. Key Players

  11. The “Dries” • Protestant denominations • Methodists • Northern Baptists • Southern Baptists • Presbyterians • Disciples • Congregationalists • Quakers • Scandanavian Lutherans

  12. The “Wets” • Episcopalians • German Lutherans • Roman Catholics

  13. Other Interested Parties • African-American Labor Activists • Soda Fountain Manufacturers

  14. Volstead Act

  15. 18th Amendment • January 16, 1919 (ratification) • January 16, 1920 (prohibition began) • Enforcing it was difficult • Before women earned the right to vote

  16. Supporters • KKK • Women • Southerners • Rural dwellers • African-Americans

  17. EXCEPTION • Woman’s Organization for Prohibition Reform • However, Senator Morris Sheppard joked, • “There is as much chance of repealing the Eighteenth Amendment as there is for a humming-bird to fly to the planet Mars with the Washington Monument tied to its tail”

  18. Our Neighbors • Alcohol was not illegal in our bordering countries • Distilleries and breweries in Canda, Mexico and the Caribbean flourished • Visitors • Exported to Chicago • Al Capone • Bugs Moran

  19. To be continued…

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