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. [Directed by Gibbons Studio, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Fred Roux].

Rod Phillips: What happened when the United States tried to ban alcohol 

What happened when the United States tried to ban alcohol 

The botched attempt at banning alcohol led to thousands of poisoning deaths from government-mandated chemical additives.

Repealing Prohibition in 1933 wasn't just a policy reversal; it was an acknowledgment of alcohol's complex role in society.

Prohibition's start in 1920 spurred black markets, enriching organized crime while aiming to curb alcohol's societal woes.