Skip to main content

Prohibition: Banning alcohol was a bad idea... - Rod Phillips

699,720 Views

8,606 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

On January 17, 1920, less than one hour after spirits had become illegal throughout the United States, armed men robbed a Chicago freight train and made off with thousands of dollars worth of whiskey. It was a first taste of the unintended consequences of Prohibition. So what exactly was Prohibition, and why did it happen? Rod Phillips investigates this chapter of American history.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Rod Phillips
  • Director Jérémie Balais, Jeff Le Bars
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Animator Jeff Le Bars, Jérémie Balais, Mélissa Plantaz
  • Compositor Mélissa Plantaz
  • Music Fred Roux
  • Sound Designer Raphaël Pibarot
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma

More from The World's People and Places