A Thousand Thirsty Beaches

A Thousand Thirsty Beaches is a well-researched and lively examination of the impact of Prohibition on the American coastal South. The study further expands our understanding of the impacts of Prohibition beyond the borders of the nation, highlighting the relationship between southern states and Cuba, a key site in the battle over the liquor trade. Lisa Lindquist Dorr organizes her transnational study thematically, opening with a discussion of rum-running operations that connected Americans and Cubans during the 1920s. The author documents the expansive smuggling networks that emerged between Cuba and southern states, which grew into a thriving big business. This not only involved liquor but also led to a rise in the smuggling of undocumented immigrants and illegal drugs. The booming illicit market, in turn, became a key focus of U.S. law enforcement officials. Dorr traces the emergence of a more visible enforcement apparatus, particularly with the rise of the U.S. Coast Guard. The author also uncovers how international treaties and agreements undergirded stricter law enforcement efforts. American authorities sought—with varying degrees of success—to pressure countries such as Cuba to enforce American laws within their own boundaries. In this way, Dorr frames Prohibition as an example of U.S. attempts to expand its imperial presence in the Western Hemisphere

Ancient history · Battle · China · Economy · Enforcement · Expansive · Frontier · Guard (computer science · Law enforcement · Political science · Sociology · Thriving · Cuban History and Society · History · Law