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Who Drank To Much First?
While Great Britain still oversaw us they noticed that we had a drinking problem. Alarmed by the consumption of rum and brandy in Georgia, alcohol was no longer shipped to the colony. However, that did not stop Georgia. They continued to transport alcohol from South Carolina and made their own alcohol. -
Why Did We Get It Back?
Thirteen short years later the right to drink was returned to Georgia. Ironically enough, that's how much time was between the 18th and 21st Amendments! -
Try Again?
There has been a brief consideration from the Second Continental Congress to ban whiskey. However, ultimately it is decided to be left alone once more. -
What Does He Think?
Dr.Benjamin Rush is the next person who takes a jab at alcoholism. Washington's attorney general during the Revolutionary War stated he supported, and encouraged, alcohol consumption to be less than what it was in America. -
What does John Adams have to do with this?
Alcohol consumption is beginning to pick up rapidly in America. Most young men average between 7-12 gallons of alcohol per year. This continued to a point where President John Adams declared his "zeal amounting to enthusiasm against," alcohol. -
Temperance Made It Work?
The temperance movement was the women's war on liquor. Inherently, the movement was created to encourage more active fathers. However, it was interpreted as women wanting less alcohol. If this were entirely the case, it would be completely fair! Women had very few rights at this time and were the most affected by relatives having alcoholism. -
No More Wartime Pregame!
Whiskey officially was taken away from soldiers! The answer is no, operating military-grade weapons while trashed is not allowed. The military was the first government institution to induct prohibition! -
Abraham Lincoln Where Do You Stand?
A young Abraham Lincoln gave his own "temperance speech." In this speech, he diminished the entire idea of prohibition. Stating "Happy day, when all appetites controlled, all passions subdued, all matters subjected, mind, all conquering mind, shall live and move the monarch of the world. Glorious consummation! Hail fall of Fury! Reign of Reason, all hail!" -
Maine Did It First!
The first state to officially adopt prohibition into law. This is what set the trend for the states to follow suit. -
They did it too!
Oregon, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Vermont were the next states to go. -
Given Back Temporarily
By the Civil War era, there were only five that remained dry. Mostly this was because the federal government needed the taxes from alcohol to fight against the south. -
Temperance Is Back
While the title is misleading, it is true in some ways. Temperance never truly left. For a while, they focused more on abolishing slavery, and eventually, the movement turned back to drinking. The groups of women from different religious denominations focused back towards drinking. Not only used their religion as a reason to be against drinking, but they also blamed domestic violence and financial issues on alcoholism. -
Men Support It?
The Anti-Saloon League was a large prohibitionist group. However it had one key difference, it was lead and made up of mostly men. The leader of this particular group was named Wayne Wheeler. The group started to pick up traction in the progressive era. Which gave them the perfect opportunity to hit the immigration angle. Their ideals caused 50 counties in Ohio to ban alcohol. -
Wheelers Got This
While many places in America already resented their saloons and alcohol in general, Wheeler was looking to get an official nationwide ban on alcohol. When America joined WW1 he saw his opportunity. He exploited patriotism. With most beer makers being German, he used that as an angle to get it passed. The first milestone was agreeing Congress to set a war-time ban. Then, it would go further. -
America Made Dry
On this day, the Eighteenth Amendment was passed. This amendment made alcohol distribution, purchase, and creation illegal. The original idea behind this action was to decrease crime levels and create safer communities. 46/48 of the states passed this amendment! Turns out strict laws doesn't entirely aid the possibility of bad amendments. -
The Volstead Act
This act reinforced the 18th Amendment. Named after a Minnesota representative, the act made selling, buying, and distributing alcohol a punishable offense. President Woodrow Wilson tried to veto this act, but the Senate blocked him on a 65-20 vote.