I remember learning about the Prohibition Era in my high school history class, but I must not have been paying very close attention since I missed so many of these unbelievable facts about life during the ban.
Of course, I know about speakeasies, black market hooch, and how Al Capone had his heyday after the 18 th Amendment went into effect on January 16, 1920, but have to admit I likewise had no idea just how it lasted so long before the 21 st Amendment came along to repeal it.
It’s fun to look back on all the sneaky styles people tried to get their secure, like the creative” cow shoes” bootleggers allows one to fool police officer on their trail.
There was also obviously a downside for those imbibing “bathtub gin” or moonshine constructed with shady, unregulated practises — but you might be surprised by what really caused the deadliest damage.
Take a appear and let us know in the comments if we missed any surprising Prohibition facts you’ve heard.
And don’t forget to SHARE with your friends!
[ H/ T: History]
1. It Wasn’t Actually Illegal To Drink Alcohol
The 18 th Amendment merely stipulated against the” fabricate, marketing and transportation of intoxicating alcohols ,” so it was the money transaction rather than the purposes of the act of drinking that got folks into hot water.
2. World War I Led To The Ban
When the US entered the fray in 1917, proponents against alcohol leaned heavily on the arguing that the barley being implemented in brewing beer could be put to better use in baking bread for soldiers and those affected by the war in Europe.
It didn’t take much more convincing for the amendment to pass.
3. Tons Of People Died From Drinking “Bathtub Gin”
Or moonshine, or whatever else their handy bootlegger had mixed up to offer during Prohibition, but their often unsanitary situations weren’t the only issue for those guzzling the illicit booze.
According to reports, the government actually ordered the poisoning of industrial alcohols most commonly known for being pilfered by bootleggers in an attempt to scare folks into sobriety. Instead, there were an estimated 10,000 deaths.
4. Several States Discounted The Amendment
Maryland was known for being particularly anti-Prohibition back in the working day as they never bothered to enforce the law.
Other governments would eventually follow suit and Maryland Senator William Cabell Bruce was quoted telling,” National prohibition went into legal effect upward of six years ago, but it can be truly used to say, except to a highly qualified scope, it has never gone into all practical purposes at all .”
5. Doctors Could Prescribe Whiskey
The Volstead Act included a few legal loopholes for people to continue boozing, including a doctor’s note taken to the pharmacy where they offered” medicinal whiskey” for a variety of ailments.
Sacramental wine was also permitted for religious purposes, and it was totally fine to enjoy any alcohol you had leftover in your home before the prohibitions. Some households had warehouses filled with an entire inventory of liquor stores they bought out before the amendment went into effect.
6. Breweries Found Clever Way To Keep The Suns On
Left with giant factories and no legal ability to brew their product, many companies shifted to creating” near beer” with drinkings that contained merely. 5-percent alcohol, or fabricating a type of maple syrup that could be transformed into alcohol by adding water and yeast and allowing it to ferment for a few periods. Wineries had similar” wine blocks” of grape concentrate.
Others got more creative, like Yeungling and Anheuser Busch who switched over to inducing ice cream.
7. Dive Bars Were Called “Blind Pigs”
The establishments would accuse patrons for a reveal, like a live animal, and furnish a free drink. This colorful word dates back to a 19 th century tavern in Maine where the owner kept a blind animal in his backroom and sold tickets to see it with a side of rum.
8. Teetotalers Wanted To Re-Write The Bible
Supporters of the prohibitions used to be so adamant about totally eradicating alcohol from culture in all styles that they moved in so far as to hire a intellectual to remove all references to boozing from the holy volume for a sober new edition.
9. Booze Cruises Became Popular
Folks who were lucky enough to live on a coast could hop on a barge that would circle out in international waters and enjoy downing as much alcohol as their sea-legs would let them.
10. Bootlegging Court Cases Could Get Complicated
As Al Capone, photographed above, can testify, the crackdown on black market booze was no joke. Nonetheless, there used to be occasionally some humorous ensues in the courtroom.
In one particular case in Los Angeles, a magistrate had no choice but to exonerate the accused bootlegger after they drank all the evidence against him. They were then put on trial themselves, but claimed to be testing it got to make sure there really was alcohol in it.
11. You Can Still Visit Several Speakeasies
Quite a few of the most famous of New York City’s sneaky boozing spots have their doors open today like the 21 Club and Landmark Tavern. Throughout Prohibition, around 30,000 speakeasies popped up in the Big Apple alone.
Al Capone’s age-old haunt in Chicago, The Green Door, is also still up and running.
12. The Great Depression Led To Its Repeal
After 13 times, Franklin D. Roosevelt operated his 1932 presidential campaign with the promise to finally repeal Prohibition and he followed through the following year.
With the hardships being faced by the country at the time, he claimed,” What America needs now is a drink .”
Did we miss any fascinating facts about Prohibition that you’ve heard? Let us know in the comments and be sure to SHARE with your friends!
