Annotated bibliography: Prohibition

Esther Bae

Dr. Steph Brown

English 306

25 October 2016

Primary Sources

"Anti-Prohibition Protest." Government, Politics, and Protest: Essential Primary Sources. Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis, 1925.

 “Becoming Modern: America in the 1920s, Wets & Drys.” America in Class. National       Humanities Center, 1921-1930.

“Do-everything Policy.” Progressive Era to New Era, 1900-1929. Library of Congress, 1893.

*Primary sources include: photographs of anti-Prohibition movements, collection of political cartoons and essays created during Prohibition era, and letter from Women’s Christian Temperance Union to Frances Willard in 1893 WCTU Conference.

Annotated Bibliography of Secondary Sources

Andersen, Lisa M. F. The Politics of Prohibition: American Governance and the Prohibition        Party, 1869-1933. Cambridge University Press, Sept. 2013.

Category: Peer-reviewed scholarly book (historical context from book)

Précis: In her 2013 book, The Politics of Prohibition: American Governance and the Prohibition  Party, 1869-1933, author Lisa Andersen sheds light on the longest-living 3^rd party in U.S. history (the Prohibition Party) and how its impact was stopped short by the American government that largely supports major political parties. Andersen develops her thesis by examining the long history of the Prohibition Party, before its establishment when Temperance movements and Christian unions took over Southern states and gradually penetrated the nation. She hopes to expose the truth in the American government –partisanship overriding the existence of minor political parties – specifically, by exploring the Prohibition Party as a prototype for this phenomenon. Andersen’s intended audience would be the American public – specifically, those interested in politics and how major politics influenced the Prohibition Party. 

Blocker, Jack S. Alcohol, reform and society: the liquor issue in social context. Greenwood          Press, 1979.

Category: Peer-reviewed scholarly book (historical context from book)

Précis: In his 1979 book, Alcohol, reform and society: the liquor issue in social context, Jack S. Blocker examines the historical perspectives on liquor and its impact on American society along with examining the Temperance movements and Prohibitionists. He develops his thesis by his gathering of 9 essays – all perspectives of different men and their accounts of the influence of alcohol had on America and how the organized protest movements came to be about in the late 19^th and early 20^th century. His purpose is to collect a multi-faceted argument on the social complexities that involved alcohol and how Prohibition movements marked a large American identity. Blocker targets his audience at scholars interested in examining the historical and social context in which Prohibition was brought up and how different protest groups utilized different methodologies in articulating idea.

---. “Did Prohibition Really Work? Alcohol Prohibition as a Public Health         Innovation.” American Journal of Public Health. 96.2, 2006, pp. 233-243. PMC, 23 Oct. 2016.

Category: Peer-reviewed scholarly article (PMC: National Institutes of Health)

Précis: In his essay, “Did Prohibition Really Work? Alcohol Prohibition as a Public Health Innovation” published in the American Journal of Public Health 2006, Jack S. Blocker introduces the argument that Prohibition had been the result of a 100-year-old campaign (Temperance movement) and the tension between “wet and dry” groups escalated the execution of the 18^th Amendment. Blocker develops his thesis by examining the events leading up to Prohibition (Temperance thought, social tension, political turbulence) and their impact on 1920s America. Blocker’s purpose is to “gap popular conventional wisdom…and scholarly knowledge” (233) regarding the controversial enactment of the 18^th Amendment. His intended audience would be exactly that – scholars and the general public – and closes the relationship by serving as a scholar in the perspective of the general public.

Coker, Joe L. Religion in the South: Liquor in the Land of the Lost Cause: Southern White Evangelicals and the Prohibition Movement. The University Press of Kentucky, 2007.

Category: Peer-reviewed scholarly book (looking at protest, pro-Prohibition movement, itself)

Précis: In his 2007 book, Religion in the South: Liquor in the Land of the Lost Cause: Southern White   Evangelicals and the Prohibition Movement, Coker argues that the driving force behind Prohibition came from white evangelicals to adapted to Southern culture and used religious fervor to become orators of influence. He develops this thesis by examining the timeline of Temperance – starting from a century before the enactment of the 18^th Amendment – and progressively details the influence of Southern evangelicals on Prohibition. His purpose is to bring attention to the impact of white evangelicals and the mass movement that followed. Coker aims his audience at scholars interested in learning about Temperance movements and the influence religion had on legislature.

Ely, James W. “The Progressive Era Assault on Individualism and Property Rights.” Social Philosophy and Policy, vol. 29, issue 2. Cambridge University Press, 2012, pp. 255-282.

Category: Peer-reviewed scholarly article (Cambridge University Press)

Précis: In his 2012 article, “The Progressive Era Assault on Individualism and Property Rights,” James Ely argues that the Progressive Era stripped individuals of their property rights. Ely develops this thesis by identifying political figures and leaders that went against Progressive thought and the impact of the Progressive Era on judicial and sociological beliefs. He hopes to bring into light the failure of the Progressive Era and how the movement was not simply a matter of reform, but a matter of ridding people of their rights. Ely’s audience is targeted at Americans and specifically, those who believed the Progressivism was a failure.

Frendreis, John & Tatalovich, Raymond. “A Hundred Miles of Dry: Religion and Persistence of    Prohibition in the U.S.” State Politics & Policy Quarterly, vol. 10, no. 3, Sage         Publications, 2010, pp. 302-319. 

Category: Peer-reviewed scholarly article

Précis: In their article, “A Hundred Miles of Dry: Religion and Persistence of Prohibition in the U.S,” Frendreis and Tatalovich argue that Prohibition is largely driven by moral and values and that the Temperance movement was a movement in which community was based on benefiting all Americans. They develop their thesis by examining the role of religion in the effect of Prohibition and by contrasting “dry and wet” regions of the United States. Their purpose is t o analyze the religious, economic, and socio-political factors contributed to the existence of Prohibition in certain parts of the country. Their audience is to Americans – specifically those interested in how social demographics of people in certain regions influenced Prohibition.

Funderburg, Anne J. Bootleggers and Beer Barons of the Prohibition Era. McFarland, 2014.

Category: Peer-reviewed scholarly book (looking at identity/community context from book) 

Précis: In her 2014 book, Bootleggers and Beer Barons of the Prohibition Era, Anne J. Funderburg extensively covers the history of illegal liquor sales prominent during the Progressive Era and the counterintuitive facet of Prohibition. She develops her thesis by basing her ideas off of empirical research – outdated newspapers, and stories of crime bosses such as Al Capone. Her purpose is to inform scholars and interested readers of the activity that lay below the surface (literally) and the ways of American social living. Funderburg’s audience is targeted at those interested in crime, politics, and the integration of liquor in all this. 

Magee, Malcolm. "Speaking of Progress: The Rhetoric of Reform in the Progressive Era." The       Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, vol. 3, no. 1, 2004, pp. 90-94.

Category: Theoretical peer-reviewed scholarly essay in journal  

Précis: In this 2004 publication reviewing the work, “Rhetoric and Reform in the Progressive Era” in the Journal of the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era, Malcom Magee argues that the Progressive Era “introduced a new vocabulary” that was significantly different than others times in U.S. history by looking at the rhetoric of influential orators during that time (90). He develops this thesis by outlining the rhetorical framework used to accommodate the new historical context of human progress and reform. Magee hopes to show how different Progressive rhetoric was compared to the rhetoric of other significant times of U.S. history. Magee aims his arguments at people interested in Progressive Era and specifically, the rhetoric employed during the time period to analyze its significance on1920s-1930s America.

Mattingly, Carol F. Well-tempered women: Nineteenth-Century Temperance Rhetoric.         Southern Illinois University Press, 1998.

Category: Peer-reviewed scholarly book (looking at identity/community context from book) 

Précis: In her 1998 book, Well-tempered women: Nineteenth-Century Temperance Rhetoric, Carol Mattingly examines the Temperance movement, specifically, the rhetoric employed by these movements (almost entirely women’s voices and how their efforts for Prohibition improved the lives of Americans. Mattingly develops her thesis by studying the real stories of “Temperance women” and historical accounts such as meetings, letters, and speeches. Her purpose is to relay the idea that Temperance women were not simply conservative, docile, and static in their progress – rather, that they made “purposeful rhetorical choices” to better humanity – often times, employing strong language and action. Her intended audience would be largely American women – as a woman herself, she identifies with the women community. 

McGirr, Lisa. The war on alcohol: Prohibition and the rise of the American state. W.W. Norton   & Company, 2015.

Category: Peer-reviewed scholarly book (historical context from book)

Précis: In her 2015 book, The war on alcohol: Prohibition and the rise of the American state, author Lisa McGirr examines the context in which Prohibition was built on and argues that Prohibition was not simply a failed “noble experiment” but gave birth to a new American state – a modern and expansive national government. She develops her thesis by giving historical background such as the WCTU, signs of revolt (bootleggers, speak-easies, saloon leagues) during Prohibition, and them examines the spiraling down of the whole process. Her purpose is to inform Americans of not just the ineffectiveness of Prohibition, but largely of the creation of a new American society. Her audience is tailored towards Americans and those not aware of the impact Prohibition had on the new modern democracy.

Mennell, S. J. “Prohibition: A Sociological View.” Journal of American Studies, vol. 3, no. 2.      Cambridge University Press, 1969, pp. 159-175.

Category: Peer-reviewed scholarly article (Cambridge University Press)

Précis: S. J. Mennell, in his essay, “A Sociological View,” published in the Journal of American studies, investigates the issues presented during the Progressive Era and argues that consumption of alcohol carved a major issue in its history. Mennell develops this thesis by examining the historical context that brought the federal regulation of alcohol to attention and looks at church-based organizations (WCTU), anti-saloon leagues, crime, and politics that influenced this. Mennell’s purpose is to describe Prohibition as a facet – that there was more than what lay on America’s shining surface. Mennell’s audience is tailored to a group of scholars interested in seeing the multi-facets of Prohibition and the influences of those facets.

Owens, Emily G. “The (Not So) Roaring ‘20s.” The New York Times, The New York Times Company, 1 Oct. 2011.

Category: National newspaper

Précis: In her 2011 article, “The (Not So) Roaring ‘20s, Emily Owens argues that Prohibition wasn’t a sudden move implemented by the federal government – rather it was a long and gradual movement that transitioned from state to state and resulted in less “alcohol-fueled violence.” She develops her thesis by looking at statistics of implementing “dry laws” and the impact on American living – especially, crime rates related to alcohol. Her purpose is to argue that Prohibition was not simply a lost cause, but rather a somewhat effective effort into pushing for less alcohol-related violence taken out of mass-media portrayed crime-alcohol parallel. Her audience is for people who believe that implementation of certain substances (e.g. legalizing marijuana) in order to change the mindset that legalizing something controversial, may not be entirely effective.

Peck, Garrett. Prohibition Hangover: Alcohol in America from Demon Rum to Cult Cabernet.      Rutgers University Press. 2009.

Category: Peer-reviewed scholarly book (historical context from book)

Précis: In his 2009 book, Prohibition Hangover: Alcohol in America from Demon Rum to Cult Cabernet, Garrett Peck examines the failure of Prohibition along with its aftermath, leaving Americans to decide whether alcohol was simply leisure or a controlled substance. He develops his thesis by introducing the “Noble Experiment” – a term derived from Hoover during the enactment of the 18^th century along with giving historical context regarding saloons and Temperance women. His purpose is to bring attention to the naivety of Prohibition movements and how the “Noble Experiment” failed in its poor execution of changing American society. Peck’s audience is targeted at Americans and especially, those interested in American government and 1920s social living.

West, Thomas G., & Schambra, William A. “The Progressive Movement and the Transformation of American Politics.” The Heritage Foundation. 18 July, 2007.

Category: Serious Journal (Heritage Foundation)

Précis:  In this article, The Progressive Movement and the Transformation of American Politics, published in 2007, West and Schambra, contrary to popular belief, argue that the Progressive Era had been influential in certain ways. They develop this thesis by examining the new system – one marked by the creation of new order including the possible solutions to socio-political and economic problems heavily marked during the Progressive Era. Their purpose is to inform America that the most important change in America was the “understanding of justice.” West and Schambra address their audience, America – and more specifically, those who believed in the inefficacy of Progressivism.

Witt, John F. “Booze and Big Government.” The Wall Street Journal, 18 Dec. 2015.

Category: National journal/newspaper

Précis: In his 2015 article, “Booze and Big Government,” John Witt argues that Prohibition had been ineffective in carrying out its original purpose (stopping consumption and sales of alcohol); however, was creative and new in the sense that it brought a surge of new American identity such as the modern Democratic Party and call to attention for Congress to start implementing organizations and programs designed to help the American public. Witt develops his thesis by reviewing prominent works such as “The War on Alcohol” – a book written by Harvard historian, Lisa McGirr, and putting into perspective the perhaps fruitful results that came out of Prohibition. His purpose is to relay the idea that Prohibition was not all a failure, but coincidentally resulted in a more modern, established America. Witt targets his ideas to Americans and specifically, to people that may have believed that Prohibition had no tangible or efficient outcome.