Prohibition: A Concise History

From 1920 to 1933 Americans were generally barred from making, transporting, or selling alcoholic beverages. While this attempt to impose prohibition did not last long, drinking habits did change dramatically. In this elegant and accessible introduction, W. J. Rorabaugh, the leading historian of American drinking patterns, explains how and why Prohibition came about, how it worked (and failed to work), and how it gave way to strict governmental regulation of alcohol.

W. J. Rorabaugh is Dio Richardson Professor of History at the University of Washington. He is the author of six books, including The Alcoholic Republic and American Hippies.