http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/educators/lesson-plans/
Directions: Go to the above website and scroll down to the lesson entitled “The Roots of Prohibition: Examining the
effort to prohibit alcohol in America” Watch all five video segments and then answer the following questions:
1. How would you describe America’s tradition of drinking alcohol? What were some of the costs of this tradition?
2. How did the infusion of religious reform change the nature of temperance from individual choice to government
mandate? Do you think this was a good change? Why or why not?
3. Besides providing alcoholic beverages, what other functions did the saloon serve for many Americans living in
crowded cities? What were some problems associated with saloons in American cities?
4. What was the main goal of the Anti-Saloon League? How did it use propaganda, religion, and political coercion to
promote its goals? Why did the supporters of temperance eventually believe that only a constitutional amendment
would rid the country of alcohol?
5. What effect do you think America’s long tradition with alcohol had on controlling its consumption?
6. How was the local saloon more than just a place to buy a beer? How important was such an establishment to local
residents, especially newcomers to America?
7. What factors led to the temperance movement’s change in strategy from advocating moderation to prohibition of
alcohol?
8. What are your thoughts on the idea that the Anti-Saloon League represented a minority opinion and was imposing its
will on the majority of Americans?