In this three-night documentary series, Ken Burns and Lynn Novick chronicle Progressive-era America’s “Noble Experiment”—the federal ban on alcohol, which lasted from 1920 through 1933. Part 1 traces the temperance movement’s roots in religious fervor. Part 2 examines enforcement challenges and unintended consequences, including violent crime and increased drinking by women. Part 3 shows how the law eroded social mores by turning millions of citizens into outlaws, thus feeding the disillusionment that led to repeal. Sunday–Tuesday, Oct. 2–4, at 8 p.m., PBS; check local listings
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Crisis? What crisis? How Lionesses made the Euros final against the oddsAmid injuries and questions about form, England's women are one step away from glory
-
What the Renters' Rights Bill means for landlords and tenantsThe Explainer Reforms will give tenants more protection from eviction – but may result in rent increases
-
How potatoes became an 'unusual bellwether' in Russia's economyUnder The Radarp Spud shortages are pointing to a wider crisis in the nation's finances
