The 18th Amendment
What is an amendment? What document does it change?
An amendment is a change to the Constitution.
Before Prohibition, where did most people typically drink alcohol? (Hint: We have them still today)
Bars/saloons
What were people called who illegally made or sold alcohol?
Bootleggers
What was the Volstead Act?
Outlawed alcohol/Prohibition
Who accidentally discovers the illegal alcohol still in the woods?
Opie, the little boy
According to the 18th Amendment, what activities involving alcohol were made illegal?
Here is the 18th amendment: "After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof is hereby prohibited."
The manufacture, sale, transportation, importation, and exportation of alcoholic beverages.
After Prohibition began, where did much of the drinking take place?
Speakeasies or at home secretly
Who benefited financially from Prohibition?
Gangsters, bootleggers, rumrunners, and organized crime groups.
What is a speakeasy?
A secret, usually underground bar that you had to have a special password for to get inside.
What does Opie think the old ladies are making?
Medicine
Did the 18th Amendment make it illegal to drink alcohol?
It tried, but mainly focused on the production and sale of alcohol.
Which amendment repealed the 18th Amendment and ended Prohibition?
21st
Why was Prohibition considered a “success” for criminals?
It created a black market where illegal alcohol could make huge profits
Based on the documents, did Prohibition work?
No
Why would small towns like Mayberry have been especially difficult places for enforcing Prohibition laws? (Opinion)
...
Who was responsible for enforcing the 18th Amendment?
Congress, local and state governments like police officers.
What is the root word of Prohibition?
Prohibit
Why did organized crime grow rapidly during Prohibition?
Because illegal alcohol sales were extremely profitable and hard to stop.
How did Prohibition affect crime overall?
Increased crime and violence, especially homicide.
What activity are the women actually doing? (Hint starts with an M)
Moonshining
In what year was the 18th Amendment ratified?
1919
Poem Worksheet: Why is Johnny sitting on the porch watching for the cops?
He is acting as a lookout to warn the family if police come.
Who was the biggest gangster of the 1920s?
Al Capone
What was the Harlem Renaissance? Name one person who was involved in it.
The Harlem Renaissance was a surge of African American culture, including arts, music, literature, etc. Duke Ellington started creating music, Zora Neale Hurston started writing literature, and many more influential people gained fame.
How does this episode connect to real Prohibition history? (Opinion)
Many ordinary citizens secretly made alcohol at home and did not view themselves as criminals, showing how hard Prohibition was to enforce.