Prohibition

What were the 2 main campaign groups in the 19th century?

• Anti-saloon League

• Women’s Christian Temperance Union

What was the temperance movement?

a social, political, and religious campaign against the consumption of alcohol driven by concerns that alcohol contributed to social issues like poverty, child neglect, crime, and economic decline

In 1916 how many states had banned saloons?

21 states

How did WW1 and the Russian Revolution boost the dries?

• WW1 - the USA’s entrance to WW1 boosted the dries as drinkers were accused of being unpatriotic, especially as most big breweries were ran by German immigrants who were seen as the enemy

• Russian Revolution - Bolshevism thrived on drink and alcohol led to lawlessness (communism) in the cities

How long did prohibition last?

1920-1933

Why was the prohibition not a failure?

Levels of alcohol consumption fell by about 30% in the early 1920s and prohibition gained widespread support in some states (particularly rural areas in the mid-west, but it was not popular in urban states)

Name 2 of the most famous Prohibition agents who arrested offenders? What was their tactic?

• Isadore (Izzy) Einstein and Moe Smith (Izzy and Moe)

• They would enter speakeasies and order a drink, Einstein had a hidden flask inside his waistcoat with a funnel attached and preserved the evidence by pouring his drink down the funnel

What were the effects of homemade alcohol (bathtub gin)?

• It was deadly and caused serious poisoning or blindness

How did alcoholic poisoning increase - provide dates?

• 98 deaths in 1920

• 760 deaths in 1926

How many agents did the Prohibition Bureau employ for the whole of the USA?

• Between 1500 and 2300 agents for the whole of the USA (about 200,000 square miles EACH)

How many agents were sacked for taking bribes from gangs?

one in twelve

Bootleggers?

Suppliers of illegal alcohol

Speakeasy?

A basement bar behind locked doors with peepholes (eg. the 21 club)

Moonshine?

illegally distilled/smuggled alcohol

Bathtub gin?

Home-brewed gin

Prohibition Bureau?

A government agency set up to enforce the 18th Amendment and the Volstead act

What were the aims of the Prohibition Bureau?

• Catch bootleggers

• shut down speakeasies

• destroy illegal stills

• Investigate and arrest people involved in the illegal alcohol trade 

What were the problems with the Prohibition Bureau?

• Understaffed

• Corruption: many agents were bribed by gangsters

• Lack of public support

• Organised crime: Gangsters like Al Capone became powerful by running illegal alcohol businesses and often avoided punishment

Stills?

Devices used for distilling alcohol

Rum runner?

Someone who illegally transports liquor across borders

Prohibition agent?

Someone employed by the prohibition bureau to shut down any illegal profit-making, transportation, or production of alcohol

• They were often underpaid and 1/12 agents gave into bribery of alcohol from gangsters

Wets?

People who were anti-prohibition

Dries?

People who supported the prohibition

Saloons?

Bars and taverns where alcohol was sold and drank in the USA BEFORE the prohibition began (in 1920)