History Warp (1/23-1/29): Matrimony & Prohibition

England’s Henry VIII had a thing for marriages. Actually he had a thing for marriages to women named Anne, truth be told.

On January 25, 1533, he entered into a hallowed state of matrimony with Anne Boleyn. (Years later, in 1540 to be exact, he would tie the knot with Anne of Cleaves.)

For those keeping score at home, Ms. Boleyn was HVIII’s second wife. Catherine of Aragon was his first. Boleyn provided the King with an heir to the throne, who became rather famous herself, Elizabeth I.

But, as you must surmise by now, Henry VIII soon tired of Anne Boleyn, accusing her of philandering and banishing her to the Tower of London, which was not, it is reported, a bucolic vacation spot. Eventually it was off with her head.

Wife #3 was not the above mentioned Anne of Cleaves, but Jane Seymour. I know it is difficult to keep track.

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It is true that the 18th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages, was not passed until 1917, taking effect in 1919, for a short and ill-fated run of 14 years.

Prohibition was a long time coming. The temperance movement started in the early 19th century.

It was on January 26, 1838, that the bible thumping state of Tennessee became the first to outlaw the consumption of demon rum. Anyone found guilty of drinking “spirituous liqueurs” could be fined at the discretion of the sitting magistrate, which funds were to be used for educational purposes. (It is doubtful however that tailgaters in Knoxville before football games were charged, though I have read no official reports.)

The movement that began in Big Orange Country obviously did little to stop consumption, or to stop the promulgation of laws in an attempt to stop consumption.