Objective Conditions
Why Was Prohibition Introduced in Canada?
National and Provincial prohibition started with the temperance and suffrage movements, the former being a movement to stop people from drinking, and the latter, a women's voting and legal rights movement. Together suffragists gave strong support to the Prohibition movement, especially in Ontario and the Western provinces. Some argue since women did not have a vote in Quebec, Quebec did not have prohibition. (Table 1)
Prohibition was mostly started by the people of the temperance movement to close all saloons, and drinking places, which they saw as the source of misery, poverty, and sickness. The main organizations in favour of temperance were the Dominion Alliance for the Total Suppression of the Liquor Traffic, and Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Canada. They thought poverty, crime, and disease would stop in a Canada without liquor. Baptist, Methodists, Presbyterians and Congregationalists all strongly believed in prohibition as well.
Prohibition was first enacted provincially in Prince Edward Island in 1901 (Table 2) and in the remaining provinces, as well as in Yukon (territory) and Newfoundland (colony of Britain) during the First World War. Prohibition was widely viewed as a patriotic duty and a social sacrifice, to help win the war. In March 1918 the government stopped the manufacturing and importation of alcohol into places where it was already illegal.
National and Provincial prohibition started with the temperance and suffrage movements, the former being a movement to stop people from drinking, and the latter, a women's voting and legal rights movement. Together suffragists gave strong support to the Prohibition movement, especially in Ontario and the Western provinces. Some argue since women did not have a vote in Quebec, Quebec did not have prohibition. (Table 1)
Prohibition was mostly started by the people of the temperance movement to close all saloons, and drinking places, which they saw as the source of misery, poverty, and sickness. The main organizations in favour of temperance were the Dominion Alliance for the Total Suppression of the Liquor Traffic, and Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Canada. They thought poverty, crime, and disease would stop in a Canada without liquor. Baptist, Methodists, Presbyterians and Congregationalists all strongly believed in prohibition as well.
Prohibition was first enacted provincially in Prince Edward Island in 1901 (Table 2) and in the remaining provinces, as well as in Yukon (territory) and Newfoundland (colony of Britain) during the First World War. Prohibition was widely viewed as a patriotic duty and a social sacrifice, to help win the war. In March 1918 the government stopped the manufacturing and importation of alcohol into places where it was already illegal.
Historical Photo Analysis (picture at top of page)
1.Source:
HALLOWELL, GERALD, and RICHARD FOOT. "Prohibition." The Canadian Encyclopedia. August 12, 2013. Accessed February 01, 2014. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/prohibition/.
a)Blind Pig Raided
Liquor barrels emptied into the lake at Elk Lake, Ontario, during Prohibition.
2.Location:
Elk Lake, Ontario.
3.Objects in Photo:
Barrels full of illegal alcohol.
4.People in Photo:
a)Age: 30-50 years old.
b)Gender: All male.
c)Style: Mostly suits and bowler hats, one man is wearing "working class clothes".
d)Occupations of People in Photo:
Local officials, and police.
5.Actions:
Dumping confiscated illegal liquor in the lake.
6.Purpose of Photo:
a)This photo was likely either meant to be published or used as evidence for the police.
b)It appears to be a professional photo.
c)It was taken most likely to be used in a legal situation.
d)This photo probably was used to tell other illegal liquor producers that getting caught will have serious consequences and also likely played a role in prosecuting the members of this particular illicit establishment.
7.Historical Context:
a)The historical context of this photo is that seized alcohol found in an illegal establishment is being dumped into elk lake.
b)This picture shows proof that a social problem existed because it shows that alcoholism was widespread and bad enough that people would still buy it illegally, even with the risk of legal prosecution and imprisonment.
1.Source:
HALLOWELL, GERALD, and RICHARD FOOT. "Prohibition." The Canadian Encyclopedia. August 12, 2013. Accessed February 01, 2014. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/prohibition/.
a)Blind Pig Raided
Liquor barrels emptied into the lake at Elk Lake, Ontario, during Prohibition.
2.Location:
Elk Lake, Ontario.
3.Objects in Photo:
Barrels full of illegal alcohol.
4.People in Photo:
a)Age: 30-50 years old.
b)Gender: All male.
c)Style: Mostly suits and bowler hats, one man is wearing "working class clothes".
d)Occupations of People in Photo:
Local officials, and police.
5.Actions:
Dumping confiscated illegal liquor in the lake.
6.Purpose of Photo:
a)This photo was likely either meant to be published or used as evidence for the police.
b)It appears to be a professional photo.
c)It was taken most likely to be used in a legal situation.
d)This photo probably was used to tell other illegal liquor producers that getting caught will have serious consequences and also likely played a role in prosecuting the members of this particular illicit establishment.
7.Historical Context:
a)The historical context of this photo is that seized alcohol found in an illegal establishment is being dumped into elk lake.
b)This picture shows proof that a social problem existed because it shows that alcoholism was widespread and bad enough that people would still buy it illegally, even with the risk of legal prosecution and imprisonment.