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The early days of the United States included a period of prohibition from the 1920s to the 1930s. Somewhat akin to the country making hemp illegal in 1922. All of which had a major effect on the country and its people. One of which came in the way of writers, past and present, who told stories which often included a great deal of truth even though the works may have been labeled as prohibition era fiction.
Politicians, such as William Jennings Bryan and others including members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK, ) saw to it that these laws were obeyed. In addition, the 18th Amendment was strongly supported by an ongoing temperance movement in many areas of the country. Still, the anti-alcohol ban was short lived in comparison to many other laws set during this period.
Of course, it was also during this time that a black market flourished and writers took pen to paper to write fictional and non-fictional stories related to the events of the day. The black market later gave way to notorious criminals like Al Capone, John Dillinger and others. Hence, the inspiration for a number of gang related books and novels, past and present.
During the 1930s, a consensus gradually evolved to repeal the law. Shortly thereafter, Franklin Delano Roosevelt relaxed the code to allow 3.25 alcoholic content in beer. After which, prohibition was formally abolished by the 21st Amendment of the Constitution, thus making the 18th Amendment the only repealed Constitutional Amendment in American history.
Most often, fictional tales range from the 1920s to the 1940s, including a great deal of information on President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Whether fiction, or non-fiction, stories related to the time often hold a great deal of truth within the pages. In fictional accounts, the truth is often well hidden. Whereas, in non-fictional accounts, fact is often the only aspect of the story.
Two of the most well known pieces of fiction related to the era are that of the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Richard Condon's Mile High. Each story had a different take on prohibition with Condon's character being the reason behind prohibition, and Fitzgerald's more focused on getting bootlegged liquor to a waiting public.
Each book has a main character, in the Great Gatsby one being primarily a bootlegger getting alcohol to those willing to risk buying on the black market. Whereas, Condon's character, appears to be the reason behind prohibition as a method of getting rich. By establishing the Volstead Act, the character has total control of the illegal production, distribution and transportation of Spirits to the masses.
Some of these include, Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, the Lawless Years of Prohibition by Karen Blumenthal, and Prohibition: Thirteen Years That Changed America by Edward Samuel Behr. All of which have one thing in common regardless as to when each were published, and that is that each paint a clear picture of the era.
Politicians, such as William Jennings Bryan and others including members of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK, ) saw to it that these laws were obeyed. In addition, the 18th Amendment was strongly supported by an ongoing temperance movement in many areas of the country. Still, the anti-alcohol ban was short lived in comparison to many other laws set during this period.
Of course, it was also during this time that a black market flourished and writers took pen to paper to write fictional and non-fictional stories related to the events of the day. The black market later gave way to notorious criminals like Al Capone, John Dillinger and others. Hence, the inspiration for a number of gang related books and novels, past and present.
During the 1930s, a consensus gradually evolved to repeal the law. Shortly thereafter, Franklin Delano Roosevelt relaxed the code to allow 3.25 alcoholic content in beer. After which, prohibition was formally abolished by the 21st Amendment of the Constitution, thus making the 18th Amendment the only repealed Constitutional Amendment in American history.
Most often, fictional tales range from the 1920s to the 1940s, including a great deal of information on President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Whether fiction, or non-fiction, stories related to the time often hold a great deal of truth within the pages. In fictional accounts, the truth is often well hidden. Whereas, in non-fictional accounts, fact is often the only aspect of the story.
Two of the most well known pieces of fiction related to the era are that of the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Richard Condon's Mile High. Each story had a different take on prohibition with Condon's character being the reason behind prohibition, and Fitzgerald's more focused on getting bootlegged liquor to a waiting public.
Each book has a main character, in the Great Gatsby one being primarily a bootlegger getting alcohol to those willing to risk buying on the black market. Whereas, Condon's character, appears to be the reason behind prohibition as a method of getting rich. By establishing the Volstead Act, the character has total control of the illegal production, distribution and transportation of Spirits to the masses.
Some of these include, Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, the Lawless Years of Prohibition by Karen Blumenthal, and Prohibition: Thirteen Years That Changed America by Edward Samuel Behr. All of which have one thing in common regardless as to when each were published, and that is that each paint a clear picture of the era.
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