Who Is Lisa Mcgirr's Crafting Of Prohibition?
In 1919, just shortly after the conclusion of the first World War, the United States government ratified the 18th amendment, which finally brought Prohibition into play. This exiled the sale, consumption, and distribution of alcoholic beverages. This came during a time when America was in a period of transition, if you will. The Allied forces had just taken down the likes of the Central Powers, bringing peace into civilization once more. A hard-fought victory led the U.S. to believe that there was a time of some relaxation coming, but they were far from that. The passing of Prohibition only meant that there was another battle to be fought, and it was going to be amongst themselves.
Lisa McGirr’s crafting of The War On Alcohol outlines the
impacts that Prohibition had on the country and also does a nice job of explaining how the citizens reacted to it, and the methods that were taken to duck and weave around the restrictions. In the preface she actually goes past the time of Prohibition and explains how Franklin Delano Roosevelt ended the restrictions. She also talks about the New Deal and how Prohibition affected F.D.R’s plan to reshape the country.
Through a short eight-chapter read, McGirr successfully gets her point across, although it may be a little misguided and oblivious at times. One of the biggest downfalls surrounding the Government’s failed attempt to control alcohol was how Americans were able to navigate around it. “Working-class men did not stop drinking with saloon closures, but drinking increasingly moved from the saloon into the home, private halls, and ‘athletic clubs’” (p. 48). When one thinks of going out with friends for a few drinks, it is seen as a social event. Sharing a few laughs here and there and just talking back and forth, this was basically taken away when Prohibition was put into effect, and many were not happy about it.
McGirr explains her points in a linear format, but she lays out her argument and does it well. She explains how Prohibition impacted every social group and gives readers a good understanding of what was going on at this time. She writes about federal impacts, and how this paved the way for the ongoing War on Drugs that America currently faces. All in all, The War On Alcohol is a decent read and gives a good understanding of the times, but there are other options out there that could be better suited to readers if they are looking to go more in-depth about the Prohibition period.
Lisa McGirr’s crafting of The War On Alcohol outlines the
impacts that Prohibition had on the country and also does a nice job of explaining how the citizens reacted to it, and the methods that were taken to duck and weave around the restrictions. In the preface she actually goes past the time of Prohibition and explains how Franklin Delano Roosevelt ended the restrictions. She also talks about the New Deal and how Prohibition affected F.D.R’s plan to reshape the country.
Through a short eight-chapter read, McGirr successfully gets her point across, although it may be a little misguided and oblivious at times. One of the biggest downfalls surrounding the Government’s failed attempt to control alcohol was how Americans were able to navigate around it. “Working-class men did not stop drinking with saloon closures, but drinking increasingly moved from the saloon into the home, private halls, and ‘athletic clubs’” (p. 48). When one thinks of going out with friends for a few drinks, it is seen as a social event. Sharing a few laughs here and there and just talking back and forth, this was basically taken away when Prohibition was put into effect, and many were not happy about it.
McGirr explains her points in a linear format, but she lays out her argument and does it well. She explains how Prohibition impacted every social group and gives readers a good understanding of what was going on at this time. She writes about federal impacts, and how this paved the way for the ongoing War on Drugs that America currently faces. All in all, The War On Alcohol is a decent read and gives a good understanding of the times, but there are other options out there that could be better suited to readers if they are looking to go more in-depth about the Prohibition period.