🍻 Bootlegger's Ballads and Backroom Booze: The Start of Prohibition

Welcome back History Nerds,

Sad days ahead of us with the TikTok ban. How will we ever entertain ourselves… Maybe we can soften the blow the for everyone with today’s edition of LOL History. Don’t worry, we’ll leave out the loud hip-hop music and weird trends. Instead, we’ll touch on everyone’s favorite topics - war, music, sports, and alcohol. And if you learn anything from this read, make sure you test your friends with your newfound knowledge and tell ‘em where you got it from.

Did You Know? The oldest known evidence of alcohol production dates back to around 7000 BC in Jiahu, China, where archaeologists found pottery jars containing traces of fermented beverages made from rice, honey, and fruit.

During Your History Lesson You’ll Learn About:

• The Start of the Gulf War

• Johnny Cash’s Iconic Prison Concert

• The Biggest Upset in Super Bowl History

• United States’ Failed Sobriety Test: The Start of Prohibition

Gulf War 1991: The Airstrikes That Shook The World

On January 16, 1991, the Persian Gulf War officially began with a U.S.-led airstrike campaign, launching Operation Desert Storm. The stage had been set months earlier when Iraq, under Saddam Hussein, invaded Kuwait in August 1990. With Hussein eyeing Kuwait's vast oil reserves, the global community watched as tensions mounted, eventually pushing the U.S. and its allies to intervene. The air offensive that followed was intense, with missiles and bombs deployed at a rapid pace, targeting Iraq's military infrastructure.

The U.S. military, armed with state-of-the-art technology and precision-guided weapons, wasted no time making it clear this was no average conflict. Iraq’s air defenses crumbled quickly, and Saddam’s forces were hit hard, sparking a swift and forceful response. It wasn’t just about firepower—it was about making a statement. The operation seemed like it belonged in a blockbuster action film about a high-pressure operation but with real-world consequences.

By February 28, 1991, the air campaign had achieved its objectives, and a cease-fire was declared. The Gulf War, brief yet impactful, set the tone for future Middle Eastern conflicts. While the U.S. emerged victorious, the aftermath proved far more complex, shaping the region's geopolitics for decades to come. And though the operation was quick, the consequences would last much longer.

Johnny Cash at Folsom: The Concert That Changed Music

On January 13, 1969, Johnny Cash performed at Folsom Prison, an concert that became a landmark in his career and in the history of live music. Johnny Cash had always felt an odd kinship with the incarcerated most likely due to his own experiences with the law and addiction, having written the song "Folsom Prison Blues" in 1955, which captured the bleakness of prison life. His decision to perform live at Folsom was part of his ongoing support for prison reform and his belief in the power of music to uplift and connect.

The concert was not just a performance, it was a real concert in a real prison. Cash opened with "Folsom Prison Blues," a song that resonated deeply with the inmates, many of whom knew the lyrics by heart. His set list included songs like "Dark as a Dungeon" and "I Got Stripes," which spoke directly to the experiences of prison life. The audience of inmates loved it and instead of starting a massive riot, Cash created an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding. Could you imagine if somebody tried this today?

The result of this performance was the album "At Folsom Prison," released later that year, which became one of Cash's most successful and influential works. It was raw, with the sounds of the prison environment, including the clanging of doors and the shouts of inmates, adding to the authenticity of the recording. This album not only sold incredibly well but also brought attention to the conditions within the American penal system at the time, advocating for reform and understanding… but we can all see how well that worked out.

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Joe Namath’s Iconic Super Bowl Upset

On January 12, 1969, Joe Namath pulled off the biggest upset in Super Bowl history. The brash quarterback of the New York Jets had the audacity to guarantee victory over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Critics doubted him, analysts dismissed him, but Namath stepped onto the field and delivered a win. 

Namath didn’t even throw a touchdown pass that day, but he didn’t need to. With a cool, calculated game plan, the Jets dominated, and their defense suffocated the Colts at every turn. The Jets’ 16–7 win shocked the football world and gave the AFL (American Football League) its first Super Bowl victory, proving they could hang with the NFL giants. Namath walked off the field with his finger held high and he had cemented his place in NFL history.

Since Namath’s iconic win, the Jets have struggled to replicate that level of success. The team has faced numerous setbacks and disappointing seasons, leaving fans hopeful but often let down. Their recent move to acquire quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2023 was another attempt to turn things around, but it ended in disappointment with a 5-12 record. Despite the effort, the Jets continue to search for a way back to the glory of their past.

Bootlegs and Speakeasies: The Start of Prohibition

On January 17, 1920, America took a bold, if somewhat misguided, step into the realm of sobriety by enforcing Prohibition. The 18th Amendment, ratified the previous year, was now in full swing thanks to the Volstead Act, which defined what was considered "intoxicating liquor" and set the legal limit at 0.5% alcohol by volume. This law aimed to cleanse the nation of the social evils attributed to alcohol, similar to the modern crackdown on the popular vape, Juul.

The movement, with its roots in the 19th century, had finally achieved its goal through the efforts of organizations like the Anti-Saloon League and support from women's groups who saw alcohol as a barrier to social reform. Yet, Prohibition didn't quite dry out America as intended. Instead, it watered the seeds of organized crime. Figures like Al Capone rose to infamy, turning the illegal liquor trade into a lucrative business. Bootlegging became an art form, with moonshine being distilled in backwoods and speakeasies popping up in every city, hidden behind unassuming facades.

Law enforcement found themselves in a perpetual game of hide and seek with bootleggers, often with little success. The public's thirst for alcohol didn't vanish; it just went underground, creating a culture of secrecy and defiance. This period also saw a cultural boom, with speakeasies becoming the birthplace of jazz and a haven for those testing the boundaries of social norms. The Roaring Twenties were indeed roaring, in part because of the very thing Prohibition sought to eliminate.

By the time Prohibition was repealed in 1933 with the 21st Amendment, it was clear that the attempt to legislate morality had not only failed but had unintended consequences. It left a legacy of cultural rebellion, a redefinition of crime, and a lesson in the complexities of human behavior when faced with legal restrictions on personal freedom.

Trivia Time

In every issue of LOL History, we take a break from sharing historical events to bring you a quirky trivia section. Get ready to challenge your brain and impress your friends with some seriously weird knowledge