Prohibition

Podra Network

Bootleggers, speakeasies and the rise of the mob — the story of America's failed ban on alcohol.

Episodes

  1. 8 APR

    The Roots of Temperance: How America Learned to Hate Alcohol

    Explore the fascinating origins of America's temperance movement in this episode of Prohibition with James Hartley. Discover how a nation that once consumed seven gallons of alcohol per person annually transformed its relationship with drinking through nearly a century of social reform. From the colonial era when beer and cider were daily necessities to the formation of the American Society for the Promotion of Temperance in 1826, this episode traces the complex social, religious, and economic factors that fueled America's growing opposition to alcohol. Learn about key organizations like the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the Anti-Saloon League, and understand how women's rights, religious revival movements, and industrialization intersected to create one of history's most successful reform campaigns. The episode examines how temperance advocates evolved their arguments from moral and religious objections to scientific and economic claims, ultimately reframing alcohol as a dangerous social poison. Hartley provides essential historical context for understanding how genuine social concerns about drinking led to the unprecedented step of constitutional prohibition, setting the stage for one of America's most controversial social experiments. Perfect for history enthusiasts interested in social reform movements, prohibition era, and American cultural transformation.

    6 min
  • 1 Episode

About

Bootleggers, speakeasies and the rise of the mob — the story of America's failed ban on alcohol.

Information

  • Channel
    Podra Network
  • Creator
    Podra Network
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    1
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Podra Network
  • Show Website
    Prohibition

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