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Last Call: The Rise And Fall Of Prohibition By Daniel Okrent

1374 Words6 Pages

“If a family or a nation is sober, nature in its normal course will cause them to rise to a higher civilization. If a family or nation is debauched by liquor, it must decline and ultimately perish.” -Richmond P. Hobson, in the U.S. House of Representatives, December 22, 1914 The first two chapters of “Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition” provide the readers with an overview of the historical, political, and cultural factors that set in stone the prohibition movement in America. Okrent fills his book with complexities and contingencies to help his readers better grasp the concept. The origins of the movement started in the early 19th century, but way before that Americans had a major drinking problem. It was because of economic and social …show more content…

The temperance movement gained momentum during that period quickly, which in turn, put increasing pressure on the alcohol industry. Breweries, distilleries, and saloons faced economic challenges as temperance advocates campaigned for stricter regulations or a total prohibition of alcohol consumption. Due to this, the threat of prohibition loomed over these businesses, leading to uncertainty and financial instability. As prohibition laws started to solidify, many businesses were forced to shut down or scale back operations. Many shops that were once thriving financially now faced declining sales and revenue, and some owners and workers experienced job losses as establishments closed down due to the regulations. Shifts in consumer preferences occurred as well, while some people embraced the idea of temperance and chose to stray away from alcohol altogether, others just slightly reduced their drinking habits and shifted towards other alternatives. These changing consumer ideals further strained the profitability of businesses in the alcohol industry, contributing to economic downfalls and closures. At first, the public agreed with the movement of temperance, but as it started to fall into stone, parts of society began to rally against it since they believed it went against their rights as citizens. For example, in Portland, an angry crowd broke out in 1855 of Irish immigrants who didn't like Neal Dow and one of the prohibition laws he helped move. An angry crowd of three thousand went on a riot, and when military men went to calm the riot, one man was left killed and seven wounded. Change Over Time- Okrent explains the change over time of prohibition by exploring the social, political, and cultural factors. Okretn shows how the

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