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Questions and Answers
Where did the term 'speakeasy' originate?
During Prohibition, the only legal establishments where the use of alcohol was permitted were pharmacies.
True
Speakeasies used __________ or secret knocking patterns for patrons to gain access.
passwords
What were some examples of codewords used when ordering alcoholic beverages during Prohibition?
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Match the following terms related to the Prohibition era:
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What event led to the acceleration of the end of Prohibition in the United States?
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What amendment repealed the 18th Amendment, ending Prohibition?
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Speakeasies were known for their open and visible locations during the Prohibition era.
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Speakeasies often featured bartenders dressed in retro outfits, dim lighting, and a menu boasting ______-era cocktails.
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Study Notes
A History of Speakeasies in the USA
- Speakeasies were hidden bars that operated secretly during the Prohibition era in the United States (1920-1933).
- The 18th Amendment, written into law in January 1919, prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors in the United States.
The Origins of Speakeasies
- The term "speakeasy" originated from 19th-century England and Ireland, where it referred to illegal watering holes.
- During Prohibition, the term gained widespread usage alongside a thriving clandestine drinking culture.
- The only legal establishments where alcohol was permitted were pharmacies and religious institutions.
Characteristics of Speakeasies
- Tucked away from the public eye, with no official entrance.
- Required passwords, secret knocking patterns, and codewords to gain access and order drinks.
- Examples of codewords used include "coffin varnish", "white mule", "horse liniment", and "monkey rum".
- Nicknamed "blind pigs" and "gin joints", with over 5,000 speakeasies in the country by 1922.
Inside a Speakeasy
- Upon gaining entry, patrons would be greeted by bartenders serving a wide variety of alcoholic beverages.
- Men and women mingled and partied together, defying traditional social norms.
- Speakeasies were one of the rare places where segregation was absent, with people from all cultures and races drinking together.
The Rise of Speakeasies and the Flappers
- Women could enjoy a cocktail in a speakeasy, away from the public eye.
- The rise of the Flappers, a generation of boisterous party girls, who ignored traditional Victorian values.
- Frequenting speakeasies and indulging in alcohol and jazz music, Flappers defined the party culture of the Roaring Twenties.
Connection to Bootleggers and Organized Crime
- Speakeasies were operated by mob bosses and organized crime syndicates that controlled the lucrative large-scale interstate liquor smuggling.
- Legendary gangster Al Capone reportedly made over $60 million a year supplying bootlegged alcohol to the thousands of speakeasies he owned.
The Decline of Speakeasies
- Prohibition proved to be an ill-conceived policy that sparked more controversies and problems for America.
- The 21st Amendment of 1933 repealed the 18th Amendment, allowing people to openly enjoy a drink in reopened saloons and bars.
- Speakeasies gradually went into decline, marking the end of the distinctive clandestine drinking culture.
Resurgence and Legacy of Speakeasies
- Today, many drinking establishments mimic the aesthetic and nostalgic appeal of speakeasies.
- These speakeasy-themed bars often feature dim lighting, retro outfits, and Prohibition-era cocktails.
- The legacy of speakeasies remains deeply connected to American society, with a growing nostalgia for the Roaring Twenties.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the hidden bars that flourished during the US Prohibition era. Learn about the history of speakeasies in the USA and their secretive nature.
