Get ready to test your knowledge about the history of all things boozy that make this region and curiosity for spirit enthusiasts. From rum running to moonshining, Florida has a rich history that makes this quiz a spirited adventure. Cheers and lets dive in!
Which amendment repealed Prohibition?
A. 17th
B. 19th
C. 21st
D. 22nd
The answer is C
Amendment Twenty-one to the Constitution was ratified on December 5, 1933. It repealed the previous Eighteenth Amendment which had established a nationwide ban on the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol
What nickname was given to the ships that smuggled alcohol into Florida from the Caribbean?
A. Whiskey Clippers
B. Rum-runners
C. Speakeasy Sailors
D. Pirate Schooners
The answer is B
Rum running, the organized smuggling of imported whiskey, rum and other liquor by sea and over land to the United States, started within weeks after Prohibition took effect on January 17, 1920. Shipments of whiskey from Great Britain traveled to Nassau in the Bahamas and elsewhere in the Caribbean for illicit importation to America’s East Coast including Florida and New Orleans.
What was the term for the routes used by bootleggers to transport alcohol across Florida?
A. Rum Trails
B. Whiskey Roads
C. Moonshine Highways
D. Hooch Lanes
The answer is A
Rum Trails, also known as Rum Row were sparsely populated areas off the southeast coast of Florida, as far north as Martin County, which had a strategic advantage as a perfect hideaway for rum runners and their vessels. These areas in Florida became so widely used by transporters that they became known by both names.
What was Florida moonshine commonly referred to during prohibition?
A. Swamp Spirits
B. White Lightening
C. Sunshine Swill
D. Everglades Whiskey
The answer is B
The term “moonshine” is more commonly used to refer to illegally distilled spirits in general, while “white lightning” is a specific type of moonshine that is known for its high potency and clear color. While it originated in the Appalachian region, most areas developed their own type of “white lightening” which is technically unaged whiskey. In Florida, corn was most commonly used to make moonshine.
What was the main port in the Bahamas used to smuggle liquor into Florida?
A. Freeport
B. Nassau
C. Abaco
D. Bimini
The answer is D
Bimini was a prime staging area where alcohol was stored before being smuggled to Florida and other areas of the U.S. Located just about 50 miles off the U.S. coastline, vessels of all sizes were able to launch on a nightly basis, carrying their cargo to larger ships bound for the U.S.
What technological innovation did bootleggers use to outrun law enforcement on the water?
A. Steam-powered boats
B. Cigarette boats
C. Paddle steamers
D. Fishing trawlers
The answer is B
Cigarette boats, known at the time as “go-fast” boats were built for spead and became one of the most popular means of delivering illegal booze to larger ships. Their speed allowed them to avoid interception by law enforcement. These small speedy boats, designed with a long narrow platform and a planning hull, would eventually become a brand name for a line of go-fast boats that popularized and largely defined the class in the 1960s, made by Don Aronow's Cigarette Racing Team.
What was the penalty for being caught with illegal alcohol in Florida during Prohibition?
A. $50 fine and confiscation
B. $1,000 fine and 6 months in jail
C. $500 fine and 3 months in jail
D. $5,000 fine and 1 year in jail
The answer is D
A fine not to exceed $5,000 and not more than a year in jail was the original penalty for violating prohibition laws, under 7 U.S. Code § 96. However, The Increased Penalties Act enacted on March 2, 1929, it is also called the "Jones–Stalker Act" or the "Jones Act" stipulated that wherever any penalty was prescribed for the illegal manufacture, sale, transportation, importation, or exportation of intoxicating liquor as defined in the Volstead Act of 1919, the penalty imposed for each such offense should be a fine not to exceed $10,000 or imprisonment not to exceed five years, or both.
What Florida city, known for its cigar industry, had underground speakeasies during Prohibition?
A. Orlando
B. St. Augustine
C. Tampa
D. Pensacola
The answer is C
During the first few decades of the 20th century, the cigar-making industry was the backbone of Tampa's economy. The factories in Ybor City and West Tampa made an enormous number of cigars—in the peak year of 1929, over 500 million cigars were hand rolled in Tampa. In the years leading up to Prohibition, Tampa was considered among the “wettest” towns in the state and shortly after Prohibition took effect, speakeasies sprouted up nearly overnight.
Why was Florida’s geography ideal for bootlegging during Prohibition?
A. Proximity to the Caribbean
B. Extensive coastline and waterways
C. Remote swamps and dense forests
D. All of the above
The answer is D
Florida’s extensive coastline, remote swamps, dense forests and proximity to the Caribbean all played an important role in bootlegging and rumrunning. These geographical characteristics are still an asset for other illicit activities to this day.
What year did Prohibition officially end in Florida?
A. 1931
B. 1933
C. 1935
D. 1936
Amendment 21 – “Repeal of Prohibition” Amendment Twenty-one to the Constitution was ratified on December 5, 1933, ending Prohibition in Florida as well as the rest of the country.
Which infamous Florida gang was active during Prohibition and involved in bootlegging?
A. The Dixie Mafia
B. The Ashley Gang
C. The Florida Five
D. The Gulf Coast Raiders
The Ashley Gang was a notorious group of outlaws who operated in South Florida during the early 20th century. Led by John Ashley, the gang gained infamy for their exploits, which included bank robberies, bootlegging, and rum-running during the Prohibition era. Known as the "King of the Everglades," Ashley and his crew often evaded capture by using the dense swamps and waterways of Florida's wilderness as a haven. Their dramatic clashes with law enforcement became the stuff of legend, culminating in a violent ambush near Sebastian in 1924, where John Ashley and key members of his gang were killed by deputies. To this day, the Ashley Gang's legacy lives on in Florida folklore, embodying a mix of rebellion, danger, and the rugged frontier spirit of the state’s early years.
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