The Moonshining Culture
INTRODUCTION
Who here has either seen or heard of the show Moonshiners off the Discovery channel? In the show these moonshiners refer to what they do as part of their “heritage and culture.” I being a big fanatic of the show have decided to research this “heritage.” It turns out, the people in the show were right. Moonshining is a very vast and unique culture that’s roots date back to the early 1800’s. Moonshiners have their own region, lifestyle, and mark on history.
BODY
I. The moonshining culture and practice all started and remains in the Appalachian Region of the United States. A. There are some reasons behind the choosing of this location. 1. For one, it is a region that is mostly rural and covered by woodlands.
a. Because the practice is illegal. The trees and low population gives moonshiners the advantage of being undetected by people and the law.
2. Along with the advantage of being discrete. This land is also perfect for making moonshine.
a. First off, the ingredients to making moonshine can be grown naturally within the land.
1. These ingredients include corn meal, yeast, water, malt, and sugar
b. The second advantage to the landscape is the vast amount of flowing rivers found within the region.
1. These flowing rivers are necessary in order to both cool down and run through the stills.
II. Moonshiners also have a very unique lifestyle. A. They are strong believers in their values. 1. They are a very hard working and tough kind of people. 2. They strongly believe in what they do.
a. They see moonshining as a family tradition and believe they are impacting America in a positive way by keeping an old tradition alive. B. These moonshiners live life very differently than most Americans. 1. Some choose to live off the land and not rely on government or businesses.
2. Most moonshiners live in poverty and depend on a good moonshining season in order to get by.
3. Others just see it as a hobby and a practice they want to keep alive in order to pass down through their family.
C. Most of these moonshiners have a long string of ancestors that also made moonshine.
1. Some of these generations of moonshining have even dated back to hundreds of years ago.
a. Most moonshiners have their own unique recipe that separates their shine from others. 1. This recipe is normally passed down from generations of family. 2. The most common type of ancestors were coal minors.
a. The reason for this is because coal mining was one of the few types of jobs within the Appalachian region of the early United States.
b. Coal miners were underpaid and had to supplement their lack of income through the selling of moonshine.
c. Coal mining is a very difficult job that induces a lot of stress. During prohibition coal miners made and drank moonshine to take off some of that stress.
III. Moonshining has not only made a huge impact in the Appalachian Region, but also in American History. A. Prohibition 1. Moonshine was mass distributed and sold during prohibition.
a. Moonshiners would either run moonshine in and out of the Appalachian region to sell to music clubs or speak easies or just sell it to bootleggers.
b. Some famous bootleggers of this era that you all may have heard of include: Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton, Joe Kennedy Sr., William “Bill” McCoy, and Al Capone. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the illegal practice of moonshining has had a phenomenal effect on those within the Appalachian region. It has formed a culture that’s been alive for 100’s of years and is still alive today. These moonshiners made prohibition go by a lot smoother and, if you’ve ever drank moonshine, know they made one incredible drink.

Works Cited

Hanson, David J. Ph.D. Kentucky: Prohibition, Moonshine, Bootlegging and Repeal. Alcohol Problems and Solutions. Jan. 2005. Web. 27 Nov. 2011
"Moonshine's Cultural Impact." wordpress.com. N.p., 12 Dec 2011. Web. 6 Mar 2013.