Gavin Mattila's Prohibition_ An Interactive History
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University of Wisconsin, Madison *
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334
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History
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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Uploaded by ElderRaccoonMaster441
Prohibition: An Interactive History
The Mob Museum’s exhibits track the epic history
of organized crime in America from the late 19th
century to the present day. Prohibition was
arguably the most transformative period in this
story, providing a lucrative opportunity for
organized crime groups to grow dramatically in size
and sophistication. The content of this digital
exhibit, developed entirely by Museum staff, allows
users to explore not only the era’s bootleggers and
speakeasies, but Prohibition’s wider effects on
American culture and society.
For this activity, you will explore
The Mob Museum’s “Prohibition: An Interactive History”
Step 1: Explore the site
➔
You can “Scroll for an interactive journey through the history of Prohibition”
➔
Or use “The History” tab at the top of the site to navigate through the content
Step 2: Choose a topic to read about
➔
Choose anything from the rise of the mob, how dating life changed, the impact on jazz and
jukeboxes, how cops tried to catch bootleggers, or even the creation of Nascar
➔
If possible, choose a topic that relates to the celebrity you chose to learn about
Step 3: Create 5 question/answers
➔
As you read, create 5 questions that could be asked to another student that will read the same
article. Make sure that the questions are spread out throughout the article.
One of the questions
must require analysis
(meaning the reader has to analyze the content to get the answer, not just
read it)
___________________________________________________________________
What topic/article did you choose to read?:
Question 1: What were the unintended consequences of the government’s attempt to prevent the
consumption of industrial alcohol during prohibition?
Answer: The unintended consequences were poisoning, paralysis, and death of thousands of drinkers due
to gangsters stealing industrial alcohol and failing to remove the poisonous wood alcohol.
Question 2: How did the Volstead Act create exceptions for the sale of alcohol, and what were the
conditions under which alcoholic beverages could be legally dispensed?
Answer: The Volstead Act allowed exceptions for the sale of alcohol through doctors' prescriptions for
medicinal purposes and for religious sacraments by priests, rabbis, and ministers. Doctors had to obtain
permits from the U.S. Treasury Department to prescribe alcohol, and the prescriptions were typically
limited to one pint every 10 days.
Question 3: Question 3: How did the government's exemption for medicinal liquor lead to an increase in
doctors and pharmacists during Prohibition?
Answer: The exemption allowed doctors to prescribe medicinal liquor, leading to big business for both
doctors and pharmacists. The American Medical Association, initially opposed to the medicinal value of
liquor, later endorsed it as a treatment for various conditions, contributing to increased profits for the
medical and pharmaceutical industries.
Question 4: What measures did the government take to address the dangers of “denatured industrial
alcohol” being repurposed for consumption, and how successful were these measures?
Answer: The government instructed makers of industrial-use alcohol to denature it by adding four percent
wood alcohol, but bootleggers still managed to steal large quantities for illegal distillation. The
government's attempts to prevent organized crime from reconditioning industrial alcohol included
lowering the maximum wood alcohol content and adding ingredients like kerosene to make it less
harmful. However, these measures were not entirely successful in eliminating the risks.
Question 5:
Describe the 1930 epidemic related to a toxic alcoholic beverage known as "Ginger Jake."
What were its consequences, and how did it affect the lives of those who consumed it?
Answer: In 1930, bootleggers in Boston manufactured a toxic version of Jamaica Ginger, leading to an
epidemic of paralysis known as "jake leg." The chemical “tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate”, called Lindol, was
added to mimic the chemical effects of “oleoresins” without affecting the taste. This epidemic affected
35,000 to 100,000 people, causing permanent paralysis below the waist. The consequences were lasting,
with affected individuals often seen limping and begging on the streets, and musicians even wrote songs
about the tragedy.
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