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Alcohol was discovered in pottery from a Neolithic village in the Yellow River Valley. The pottery was from 7000-6600 BC. This is the earliest instance of alcohol ever. -
Distillation was first discovered in the 12th century by Italian chemists at a medical school. Then it was mainly used for rituals and medicine. It was not popular yet. -
By the 17th-century alcohol consumption was widely accepted for recreational use. Books and culture went along with it. Many bars and taverns sprung up because of its popularity.
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This group of women was concerned about the damages of alcohol to their families. They prayed and marched to saloons to demand that owners shut down their businesses. Notable people include the president of the union, Frances E. Willard. -
The Anti-Saloon League was created to influence saloons to shut down. They published many newspapers and fliers to promote their cause. The league's motto was "the saloon must go." -
Helen Kasaparbauer was my great grandmother who assisted other Templeton natives in illegal distilling and distribution during the Prohibition. She was included in a documentary about Templeton Rye, later on, being one of the oldest people to know about it. -
After many public marches, an amendment was proposed. The 18th Amendment banned the manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcohol in the United States. It passed the House on December 17th, passed the Senate on December 18th, and then proposed as an amendment -
The National Prohibition Act, also known as the Volstead Act, is passed. It provided the details of the 18th Amendment and set the active date as of January 16, 1920. Alcohol could still be used for medicinal purposes, and ensured that the amount of alcohol could not exceed .5%. -
Bootlegging, or the illegal smuggling of alcohol, was becoming more popular in the 1920s. The biggest culprit of this crime was Al Capone. Capone had a large operation in Chicago focused around bootlegging. Many people mainly in rural areas became heavily involved in crime rings like his. -
The 18th Amendment is repealed with the ratification of the 21st Amendment. Prohibition was producing negative side effects such as the alcohol businesses going under, increased organized crime, and disrespect for the law. The government could also tax the sale of alcohol, making it another source of income for the goverment.