Wikipedia: Prohibition and Smuggling Prohibition: Prohibition was the nationwide ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol during the 1920s in the United States due to the 18th Amendment. The idea had been thought over for many years prior, and a big push was finally made from the Temperance Movement. 18th Amendment​
: The 18th Amendment was an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified on January 16, 1919, that banned the sale and consumption of alcohol in the entire country. However, the amendment only went into effect the next year, January 17, 1920. Volstead Act: The Volstead Act, also known as the National Prohibition Act, specified the “intoxicating liquors” mentioned in the 18th Amendment as a beverage containing more than 0.5% alcohol. It helped implement the 18th Amendment, and gave federal, state, and local government the power to enforce prohibition. ​
​
The bill was vetoed by President Wilson but overturned by Congress on October 28, 1919. Temperance Movement: The Temperance Movement was a big push for morality towards the turn of the century. This was in support of church values and the spread of moral issues. It was during this movement that the big push to rid the country of alcohol occurred. The belief that if people were no longer drinking, then more work would be done in a more efficient manner, and less violence would occur. However, these goals were not accomplished. Moonshine: Moonshine is home­produced alcohol or whiskey. It gained its name because producers usually worked by “moonshine” in order to avoid detection. Moonshine was also known as “hooch” and “white lightning.” Southern states and Appalachia were the most like to produce moonshine. Speakeasies: ​
Speakeasies were places people could go to in the 1920’s that sold alcohol illegally. The bartenders asked their customers to speak easy and keep things quiet so they would not attract the cops. These places usually were held in secret rooms, with safeguards to hide the alcohol and escape in case of a raid. Brewing Companies: Prohibition did not surprise the over 1300 brewing companies operating in the U.S. They had time to convert their businesses into ones that sold other, legal products. Many stuck to a legal type of beer with only .5% alcohol, while others got more creative. Anheuser­Busch and Yuengling began using their refrigerated trucks to sell ice cream, Coors started selling pottery, and Miller and Pabst turned their focus to malt extract. When it was obvious that Prohibition was not going to last, however, Anheuser­Busch received permission from the government to produce 55,000 gallons of beer to have ready for celebrations after the ban ended. 3 Mile Limit: A three mile limit was set by the government to stop the import of alcoholic beverages. Ships could not contain alcohol 3 miles within the border of the country. Bootleggers smuggling alcoholic beverages would set the anchor of their ships three miles from shore to wait for smaller ships to take the illegal drinks to shore. The three mile line became known as the rum line. Legalities: Much of this amendment was not followed by the citizens, with speakeasies, rum running, and moonshine being a major part of the society during this time. Even in the capitol, the White House had its own stock of alcohol, which was served to its guests in secret. Many of the officials during this time also kept stocks of alcohol which they served to guests at home or at secret galas. Congress had its own bootlegger, and the Speaker of the house owned an illegal distillery. 21st Amendment: The 21st Amendment brought an end to Prohibition. Alcohol was legal again in the terms of the nation, but Article II stated that the states could still ban the importation and consumption of any alcoholic beverage. This allowed states to have, in most legal standpoints, full control of alcohol inside their borders, with minimal control by the government. This was the only amendment to be ratified by state conventions, and the only one to repeal a previous amendment. Smuggling: Nascar: Nascar was developed during the prohibition because of the bootlegger’s need to outrun the police. In the illegal transportation of alcohol vehicles were made discrete and were driven only at night. Even with these efforts, ‘moon runners’ struggled to avoid the police and therefore began to alter regular cars with high speed engines. Soon word spread and the cars were raced for enjoyment on the weekends. After the prohibition ended, the racing and vehicle alteration continued and grew in popularity. By 1949 NASCAR had formed into an organization and popular sport. Canada: America’s prohibition was a beneficial money maker for Canada’s production and shipment of alcohol. As the demand for alcohol increased and production in Canada was legal, Canada shipped out (by rum runners) and heavily taxed boozs making a fortune through Puget Sound by Washington state. Rum­Running and Bootlegging: Rum­running refers to the illegal smuggling of alcohol, usually over water. The name most likely originated in the beginning of the 1920’s when ships from the Bahamas would transport rum to Florida speakeasies. Bootlegging is the illegal transportation of alcohol, usually over land. The term bootlegging originated during the Civil War when soldiers would sneak alcohol into camps hidden in their boots, but it became popular when people in the city would sell alcohol hidden in flasks kept in their pant legs. External Links: http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/roots­of­prohibition/ http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Bootlegging http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto­racing/nascar/history/history­of­stock­car­racing1.htm http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol/Controversies/Volstead­Act.html#.VQmW0I73­iw http://www.vintageperiods.com/prohibition.php http://mentalfloss.com/article/55157/how­breweries­kept­busy­during­prohibition http://kcts9.org/prohibition/rum­runners­canada­role­prohibition