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Jan 16, 2026 Nicole Hemmer, a historian specializing in American political history, and Kelly Carter Jackson, an expert in African American history, dive into the fascinating origins of Prohibition. They unravel the connections between early alcohol consumption, the temperance movement led by women, and the political tactics behind the 18th Amendment. The discussion highlights how Prohibition sparked chaos on its first night and examines the cultural implications for various communities, from saloons as immigrant hubs to Black leaders advocating for temperance in the name of respectability.
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Midnight Panic To Stockpile Booze
- On January 16, 1920, Americans scrambled to buy and stash booze before the law took effect.
- Kelly Carter Jackson likens the scene to Black Friday with boxes, trucks, and a frantic rush for liquor.
Progressives, War, And Cities Made Prohibition Plausible
- Prohibition grew from Progressive Era reforms, wartime pressures, and urbanization.
- Those forces framed alcohol as a public vice tied to immigration, crime, and modern city problems.
Temperance Has Deep Historical Roots
- Temperance activism dates back to the colonial era and intensified during 19th-century religious revivals.
- Movements like the Women's Christian Temperance Union grew from moral reform and the idea that law could improve society.