Gaccione – American History CP Name: ___________________________________________________ Period: ________________ History Alive: Rumrunners, Moonshiners, and Bootleggers Day one: Moonshine, otherwise known as popskull, white dog, or more commonly, white lightning was an illegal drink made by the gallons that sold popularly and rapidly via mixing sugar, water, grain (corn) and yeast. It got its name from the secretive method of distilling the whiskey by the light of the moon. Because of the laws passed later on, it became more prevalent in the South. The method of proofing is using gunpowder and alcohol to see if it sets on fire. This will work in the best alcohol that isn’t diluted. Another method is by shaking it up and looking for bubbles. Founding father John Hancock himself was a rumrunner, and took great pleasure in evading the British. This idea of evading higher authority was a natural part of the American spirit, and helped spark the Revolution. To pay for the war costs, the Government taxed distilled spirits. Pittsburg eventually uprises against them, and the “moral crusader” emerged, calling alcohol “Demon Rum”. Georgia is overrun with these people who try to prohibit alcohol. There are people who seek out the rumrunners and moonshiners, but sometimes, they themselves are corrupt and sell the alcohol themselves. Also, in the 1900s, the emergence of speakeasies came about; secret bars with a password requirement where people quietly enjoy alcohol. It was a fast-paced party filled with music, jazz, men and women. Day two: Bad booze (poisonous), known as Monkey rum, kills roughly 5,000 people. There is a rum war at sea. William McCoy was a famous rum runner. Eventually, they even used submarines at one point, firing torpedoes filled with booze onto the beach. In order to outrun the police, they used plane engines inside of the boats. The Black Duck was a famous boat. Carl Reiter survived a shot in the head. In Detroit, which 75% of all prohibition alcohol passed through, common criminals and people are being made into millionaires, such as Mel Rose, George Remball and Joseph Kennedy. Day Three: In the 1920s, The Purple Gang, formed by the Bernstein brothers in Detroit, watered down alcohol and reputedly made poisonous alcohol. There was a rivalry between Buggs Moran and Al “Scarface” Capone. One day, a bogus shipment was called in, and many of Moran’s men were killed in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. The 18th amendment is widely being recognized as a bad idea. It is soon lifted, and in 1966, the last state, Mississippi repeals their dry laws. However, tax increases and some prohibition keep moonshine alive. Soon, Americans are able to celebrate their first legal drink in 13 years. Junior Johnson, a moonshine hauler, earned $500 a night using modded engines with stocks of World War engines, to outrun the police. In 1950, a 200 HP ambulance engine was made, presenting a challenge for the police. In 1947, Nascar is formed, comprising of bootleggers with their modded stock cars. Revenuers is the term for “moonshine police.” Before, people used to torture tax collectors, so now they travel with armed agents, who are later in the IRS. Poisonous stills are still at large. Eventually, the police went to the air, and made many significant busts, significantly reducing moonshining, but it still thrives today. Paul Henson learned his lesson after 6 years in prison.