Moonshine in the Mountains: A Social Analysis of Illicit Whiskey in Appalachia, 1865-1925
Author ORCID Identifier
Date Available
1-1-2099
Year of Publication
2024
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Document Type
Master's Thesis
College
Arts and Sciences
Department/School/Program
History
First Advisor
Dr. Kathryn Newfont
Abstract
This paper discusses how the social views of illicit whiskey distillation in Appalachia changed with the evolving liquor laws from the Civil War to Prohibition. It will also describe how moonshine played a key role in the creation of the Appalachian identity and subsequent negative cultural stereotypes during Reconstruction and onwards. The increase in liquor laws overtime created an increasingly negative sentiment towards moonshine and moonshiners. Through the utilization of newspapers, narratives, cartoons, and photographs, as well as secondary source literature on Appalachian moonshine and foundational work on Appalachian stereotype, the history of social views on moonshine in the region can be analyzed. By specifically looking at the Appalachian regions of Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, these patterns of moonshine history can be properly analyzed to provide an encompassing Appalachian history, as these states have the largest portions in Appalachia. Overall, the socio-politics of moonshine impacted the Appalachian region from the mid-19th to early 20th century and played a key role in how the U.S. viewed the Appalachians and how the Appalachians viewed themselves.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2024.146
Recommended Citation
Jeelani, Arshiya, "Moonshine in the Mountains: A Social Analysis of Illicit Whiskey in Appalachia, 1865-1925" (2024). Theses and Dissertations--History. 83.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/history_etds/83
