The Last Drinking Drys: The Repeal of Prohibition in Mississippi

The repeal of prohibition in Mississippi is a topic that has attracted little scholarly attention, and even existing attention consists of a scattered and often conflicting account of events. The purpose of this thesis is to examine and re-examine the events and players involved in the repeal of alcohol prohibition in Mississippi in 1966. While broader issues such as faith, society, and even race helped shape the context within which a movement to repeal prohibition both began and succeeded, this paper will not delve into these larger concerns any more than is necessary to understanding the significance of specific events that led to the success of the 1966 repeal movement. A brief and basic overall history of prohibition in Mississippi from 1908-1965 will precede the discussion of the successful 1966 repeal movement, but the emphasis will be on “brief “and “basic,” rather than on The primary function of this piece is to describe the exact path that Mississippi took in repealing its prohibition laws and to explain exactly why the state chose that path. The two most oft cited significant forces in this repeal movement are a February 4, 1966 liquor raid on the Jackson Country Club and the initial leadership of Governor Paul ‘overall. Johnson. Despite previous explanations of repeal that give the majority of the credit to Johnson, closer examination of the repeal process clearly shows that this raid and the resulting trials became the critical driving force behind the successful repeal of prohibition in Mississippi