Prohibition Film Analysis

614 Words3 Pages
“Columbus, Washington, Lincoln, Volstead, two flights up and ask for Gus” (New York Evening Sun). These eleven words defined history during the prohibition era. This period during American history was a time where the consumption and sale of alcohol was illegal for about a decade. In a well-known documentary called, “Prohibition” directed by Ken Burns made in 2011 tells the story of the rise and fall of the 18th amendment. Anyone interested in learning about this significant period in history, which brought upon the first modern political movement, and wants to know how alcohol was almost banned for good in America would benefit from watching this documentary. Also, even though prohibition did not start till the 1920s the idea for the banning…show more content…
In the film it brings up many points of how alcohol was taking over American lives, we were a” nation of drunkards.” Starting at 15 the average male was consuming about 88 bottles of whiskey a year. Alcohol was said to be as American as apple pie. As a country more money was spent on alcohol, then federal money. Resulting from this was a lot of domestic violence at a time where you couldn’t call the police to come help you had to just deal with it, so many families had to suffer with the father coming home late from a saloon in a rage and drunken state of mind that could not be controlled. Given this information, something needed to be done. It started with states attempting to make a law against alcohol. Unfortunately, they all failed because this is something, especially with immigrants coming over and bringing along their drinking habits with them. Many thought, to end alcohol woman would have to do something. An important figure in this was Eliza Thompson. This was the daughter of Governor Allen Trimble. She came up with this idea of gathering in a saloon and praying for the closure of the establishment. This idea first came to her from a speech given by Dr. Diocletian Lewis in 1873. In the film it states this idea was a success even though it was an act of “radical civil disobedience.” In the end it spread across 22 other

More about Prohibition Film Analysis

Open Document