Welcome to "The 454 Club": A Prohibition Pathfinder
On January 16th, 1919, the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution was officially passed, enacting prohibition. The years to follow became known as the "roaring twenties", and while prohibition was in full force throughout the decade, alcohol continued to flow. The 454 Club, a play on the name of New York's famous "21 Club" speakeasy, was designed to act as a compendium to the book Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition, by Karen Blumenthal. After finishing the book, be sure to explore the "454 Club" for more great info relating to the prohibition era. Inside you'll find links to video clips (Flicks), photographs (Galleries), downloadable audio (Broadcasts), other online resources (Exhibitions), and a great bibliography (Books).
Target Audience and General InfoThis pathfinder has been specifically designed to be user-friendly and academically appropriate for high school students. Keep in mind that the information is useful for anyone researching prohibition. It just might be a little too hard or easy for individuals outside of that targeted range!
Books on this topic might be found near the Dewey Decimal call numbers: 363.4 & 973.915 Below are a few key words that you might want to use in your research: prohibition speakeasy 18th Amendment bootlegging moonshine |
Key QuestionsBelow are some of the questions that you can use to guide your thinking and research. You can find the answers to them in the book, as well as through the resources provided in this pathfinder.
-what is prohibition? -what events lead to the ratification of prohibition? -who were the key players in enacting prohibition? -who was against prohibition and why? -how did the country change after prohibition began? -how were people able to get around the new laws? -what was "bootlegging" and what types of individuals did it? -what were "speakeasies" and how did they operate? -how did organized crime profit and grow from prohibition? -what brought about the end of prohibition? -how did the country change after prohibition ended? |