Early Prohibition and The Rise of Weird Liquor Laws (1838)

This Day in Esoteric Political History

Jody Avirgan & Radiotopia

History

4.6 • 982 Ratings

🗓️ 27 January 2022

⏱️ 16 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

IT’s January 27th. This day in 1838, some 80 years before national prohibition, the country’s first liquor restriction was passed.

Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss how the temperance movement gained momentum alongside other moral crusades in the mid-19th century, and how we are still living with a weird patchwork of alcohol laws around the country.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to this day in esoteric political history from radiotopia.
0:06.6	My name is Jody Avergan.
0:10.0	This day January 27, 183838 the first prohibition law in the United States has just
0:16.1	been passed now listeners do you want to guess what state this is in it's 1838
0:20.3	80 years before you know national pro before the Constitution is amended for
0:24.3	national prohibition 1838 the state did you guess it is Tennessee the law would
0:29.8	make it a misdemeanor to sell alcoholic beverages in taverns and stores.
0:34.0	The bill stated that all persons convicted of retailing, quote,
0:37.6	spiritous liquors would be fined at the discretion of a court and that the fines would be used in support of public schools.
0:46.0	So I know this isn't the main point of this episode, but add this to the list of the
0:49.6	weird and illogical ways in which the United States has decided to fund public schools is by fines for
0:56.0	drinking in Tennessee in 1838? Sure, that makes sense. Anyway, off my soapbox.
1:01.1	Off my liquor box.
1:03.0	Yeah, why not?
1:05.0	Why not?
1:06.0	In terms of ice into a virtue.
1:08.0	There you go, yeah, let's do.
1:09.0	Licker, lottery, and property taxes.
1:12.0	That's a great way to fund public schools.
1:13.5	Anyway, here to discuss, as always,
1:16.4	Nicole Hammer of Columbia and Kelly Carter Jackson of Wellesley.
1:19.3	Hello there.
	...

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