Immigration
The immigrant narrative can be found in the early history of the Prohibition Exhibit. When discussed, immigrants are often linked to the roots of America’s “drinking problem”. It seems that historians have placed a subtle blame on immigrants for America’s fixation with alcohol. The exhibit and most historians trace drinking habits back to early settlers and the mass amounts of immigrants who arrived during the early 19th century. The cultural influence on America by immigrants resulted in a universal fixation with alcohol. Because excessive drinking habits were brought to America by those of a completely different social background, it is only natural that these two cultures would eventually clash; resulting in the uprising of the Temperance Movement and ultimately Prohibition. Although immigrants are rarely discussed specifically, they can be found as a common contested memory throughout the exhibit’s narratives.
The exhibit begins with the Prohibition narrative of “a nation of drunkards”. The narrative is introduced by first providing a history on America’s cultural infatuation with alcohol. The fixation on alcohol could be traced back to the habits of early settlers. As colonists arrived in the New World during the early 1600s, they brought with them practices of excessive drinking. Apparently the consumption of alcohol was a necessity to settlers, seeing as they filled their ships with thousands of barrels of wine. While colonists introduced the infatuation with alcohol, the mass influx of immigrants during the 19th reintroduced the narrative.
During the exhibit’s section on Saloons, it is impossible to not include the immigrant narrative. As millions of immigrants arrived between the years 1870 and 1900, they brought with them cultural traditions of heavily drinking. Saloons flourished during this time; quickly becoming a common gathering place for America’s working class. Mass amounts of immigrants caused a general demand for more saloons; ultimately resulting in an increase of 200,000 saloons in America.
In order to provide a commonly known form of evidence of immigrant narrative within Prohibition, the exhibit shows brewing companies founded by immigrants. Famous brewing companies such as Pabst, Miller, Busch and Coors are the result of Irish and German immigrants and their deep routed love for alcohol. The contested memory of brewers continues the immigrant narrative past the contested memory of “a nation of drunkards”. Immigrant brewers serve as further evidence to the claim that immigrants caused Prohibition.
American culture encourages the need to find an answer for every problem. This cultural oddity is no exception to Prohibition. Although it is rarely stated, historians imply that immigrants are to blame for America’s drinking problem. These implications are shown throughout the many contested memories of Prohibition and are often used as evidence in supporting the notion of placing blame on immigrants.
The exhibit begins with the Prohibition narrative of “a nation of drunkards”. The narrative is introduced by first providing a history on America’s cultural infatuation with alcohol. The fixation on alcohol could be traced back to the habits of early settlers. As colonists arrived in the New World during the early 1600s, they brought with them practices of excessive drinking. Apparently the consumption of alcohol was a necessity to settlers, seeing as they filled their ships with thousands of barrels of wine. While colonists introduced the infatuation with alcohol, the mass influx of immigrants during the 19th reintroduced the narrative.
During the exhibit’s section on Saloons, it is impossible to not include the immigrant narrative. As millions of immigrants arrived between the years 1870 and 1900, they brought with them cultural traditions of heavily drinking. Saloons flourished during this time; quickly becoming a common gathering place for America’s working class. Mass amounts of immigrants caused a general demand for more saloons; ultimately resulting in an increase of 200,000 saloons in America.
In order to provide a commonly known form of evidence of immigrant narrative within Prohibition, the exhibit shows brewing companies founded by immigrants. Famous brewing companies such as Pabst, Miller, Busch and Coors are the result of Irish and German immigrants and their deep routed love for alcohol. The contested memory of brewers continues the immigrant narrative past the contested memory of “a nation of drunkards”. Immigrant brewers serve as further evidence to the claim that immigrants caused Prohibition.
American culture encourages the need to find an answer for every problem. This cultural oddity is no exception to Prohibition. Although it is rarely stated, historians imply that immigrants are to blame for America’s drinking problem. These implications are shown throughout the many contested memories of Prohibition and are often used as evidence in supporting the notion of placing blame on immigrants.