Kara Sears
The Maine Law, also known as the Maine Liquor Law, was passed on June 2, 1851, in Maine. It was the first statutory implementation of the developing temperance movement in the United States. The law prohibited the sale and manufacture of alcoholic beverages except for medicinal, mechanical or manufacturing purposes. The law was crafted by Neal Dow, a Quaker and the mayor of Portland, Maine, from 1851 to 1858. Dow was a staunch prohibitionist and co-founded the Maine Temperance Society in 1827. He was motivated by his beliefs in the Christian Temperance Movement and the negative effects of alcohol, as well as its links to slavery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date passed | 2nd June 1851 |
| Location | Maine, USA |
| Law type | Prohibition of alcohol |
| Law name | The Maine Law, or "Maine Liquor Law" |
| Creator | Neal Dow, Mayor of Portland, Maine |
| Creator's political affiliation | Temperance activist, Quaker |
| Creator's term as Mayor | 1851-1858 |
| Creator's motivations | Personal beliefs, religious influence, social change, women's empowerment, anti-slavery |
| Enforcement issues | Bootlegging, difficulty in enforcement |
| Repeal | 1856 (first attempt), 1858, 1934 |
| Impact | Inspired other states and countries to adopt similar laws, influenced by the temperance movement |
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What You'll Learn
Neal Dow, the law's creator
Neal Dow, the creator of the Maine Law, was born on March 20, 1804, in Portland, Maine, to a family of Quakers. Dow's father, Josiah, was a farmer and a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) originally from New Hampshire. His mother, Dorcas Allen, was a member of a prosperous Maine family. Dow was the middle child and the only son of the family.
Dow attended a Friends school in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and further schooling at Edward Payson's Portland Academy. In 1826, he followed his father into the tanning trade, becoming one of the first in the city to incorporate steam power into the tanning process. However, he struggled to conform to the tenets of the Quaker faith due to his hot-tempered nature and enjoyment of brawling. As he grew wealthy, he also began to embrace fine clothing, contrary to the Quakers' preference for plain dress.
Dow was a staunch prohibitionist and temperance advocate who believed that alcohol was the cause of many of society's problems. He co-founded the Maine Temperance Society in 1827 when he was just 23 years old. In 1837, the society split over whether to include wine in the proposed prohibition, and Dow sided with the anti-wine forces, helping to form the Maine Temperance Union in 1838. He became president of the Union in 1850.
Dow was first elected mayor of Portland in 1851 and immediately set about drafting what became known as the Maine Law. The law prohibited the manufacture and sale of liquor except for medicinal, mechanical, or manufacturing purposes. Dow gathered thousands of signatures on a petition supporting the bill, successfully lobbied for its passage, and persuaded the new governor, John Hubbard, to sign it. The law was the first statutory implementation of the developing temperance movement in the United States.
Dow enforced the law vigorously and called for harsh penalties for violators. However, his political career ended in 1855 when his opponents, mainly Irish immigrants, rioted in what became known as the Portland Rum Riot. Dow ordered the state militia to fire on the crowd, resulting in one death and several injuries. Public reaction turned against him, and he chose not to seek reelection. Despite this setback, Dow continued to promote prohibition across the country, and he ran for president of the United States as the Prohibition Party candidate in 1880. He died in Portland on October 2, 1897, at the age of 93.
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The law's wording and provisions
The Maine Law, also known as the Maine Liquor Law, was passed on June 2, 1851, in Maine, as the first statutory implementation of the developing temperance movement in the United States. The law was crafted by temperance activist Neal Dow, who was the mayor of Portland, Maine, at the time.
The Maine Law of 1851 prohibited the manufacture and sale of liquor except for "medicinal, mechanical, or manufacturing purposes." This meant that alcoholic beverages could still be produced and sold for specific industrial and medicinal uses, but not as a recreational drink. The law's wording specifically targeted the sale of alcoholic beverages, aiming to restrict their accessibility to the public.
The law also included a search-and-seizure provision, which enabled any three voters to obtain a search warrant if they suspected someone of selling liquor illegally. This provision was designed to empower citizens to take an active role in enforcing the prohibition. It lowered the threshold for obtaining a search warrant, making it easier for suspected violations to be investigated.
The Maine Law served as a model for similar prohibitory liquor laws that were passed in other states. By 1855, twelve states had joined Maine in total prohibition, becoming known as "dry" states, in contrast to "wet" states, where no prohibition laws existed. The law's influence extended beyond legal boundaries, sparking debates about the role of alcohol in society and the government's role in regulating it.
The act was unpopular with many working-class people and immigrants, and opposition turned violent on June 2, 1855, during the Portland Rum Riot. The riot was sparked by rumours that Mayor Dow was hypocritically storing alcohol in the basement of Portland City Hall. The violence and opposition to the law ultimately led to its repeal in 1856, although prohibition was re-enacted in various forms, and it continued to shape alcohol regulations in Maine and beyond.
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The law's influence on other states
The Maine Law, passed on June 2, 1851, was the first statutory implementation of the developing temperance movement in the United States. The law prohibited the sale and manufacture of liquor except for "medicinal, mechanical, or manufacturing purposes." The law also included a search-and-seizure provision that allowed any three voters to obtain a search warrant if they suspected someone of selling liquor.
The Maine Law had a significant influence on other states in the United States. By 1855, just four years after the passage of the Maine Law, twelve states had joined Maine in total prohibition. These states, known as "dry" states, enacted similar prohibitory liquor laws, becoming the opposite of "wet" states, where no prohibition laws existed.
The specific states that passed their own versions of the Maine Law in 1855 were Pennsylvania, Iowa, and New Hampshire. Additionally, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio passed prohibitory liquor laws in 1855, although these laws were initially invalidated by state courts before being upheld in later rulings or replaced with revised laws that avoided constitutional issues.
The influence of the Maine Law extended beyond the immediate adoption of similar laws in other states. The law's passage was a significant milestone in the growing temperance movement in the United States, and it reflected a broader shift in societal attitudes toward alcohol consumption. The Maine Law also gained recognition internationally, inspiring similar movements in other countries, such as the United Kingdom Alliance in Manchester, England, where a street was renamed Maine Road in honour of the law.
The Maine Law's impact on other states was not without controversy. The law was unpopular with many working-class people and immigrants, particularly Irish Catholics, who felt targeted by the prohibitionist measures. This tension culminated in the Portland Rum Riot on June 2, 1855, during which opponents of the law, angered by rumours that Mayor Neal Dow was storing alcohol in City Hall, stormed the building. The riot resulted in the death of one immigrant and injuries to several others, further exacerbating the conflict between prohibitionists and those who opposed restrictive liquor laws.
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The Portland Rum Riot
On June 2, 1855, four years after the passing of the Maine Law, a crowd of about 200 people gathered outside the Portland City Hall, where Mayor Neal Dow was rumoured to be storing $1600 worth of rum. The crowd, which grew to between 1,000 and 3,000 people by the evening, was largely made up of Irish immigrants, who were vocal critics of the Maine Law, seeing it as a racist attack on their culture.
The crowd was angry and agitated, throwing rocks at the building, and the Portland police were unable to control the situation. Dow, who was a staunch prohibitionist and co-founder of the Maine Temperance Society, called out the militia and ordered them to shoot. The militia detachment fired into the crowd, killing one man, John Robbins, and wounding seven others.
The crowd dispersed, but Dow faced widespread criticism for his heavy-handed tactics. He was prosecuted for violating the Maine Law for improperly acquiring the alcohol but was later acquitted. The Portland Rum Riot was a major contributing factor to the repeal of the Maine Law in 1856. It also ended Dow's political career, despite his later heroic return from the Civil War.
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The law's repeal and legacy
The Maine Law, passed on June 2, 1851, was the first statutory implementation of the developing temperance movement in the United States. The law prohibited the manufacture and sale of liquor except for "medicinal, mechanical, or manufacturing purposes". The law also included a search-and-seizure provision that enabled any three voters to obtain a search warrant if they suspected someone of selling liquor.
The Laws Repeal and Legacy
The Maine Law was unpopular with many working-class people and immigrants. Opposition to the law turned violent in Portland on June 2, 1855, during an incident known as the Portland Rum Riot. Opponents of the Maine Law stormed Portland City Hall because they thought Mayor and prohibitionist Neal Dow, who helped craft the law, was keeping liquor in the basement. Newspapers reported that Dow ordered rioters to be fired upon, killing one and wounding seven. The riot was a contributing factor to the law being repealed in 1856. However, despite the repeal, prohibition was re-enacted in various forms and eventually was written into the state constitution in 1885.
The Maine Law gained recognition internationally and was the inspiration for the United Kingdom Alliance in Manchester, England. That organization grew and, during the late 19th century, a street in Manchester, England, was renamed Maine Road in honour of the law. Originally known as Dog Kennel Lane, the street was renamed due to the influence of the temperance movement in the United Kingdom. A 16.5-acre brickworks on the street was later redeveloped into Maine Road football stadium, where Manchester City F.C. played home games between 1923 and 2003.
Widespread bootlegging and other problems led to the repeal of the law in 1858. The state replaced it with a law that simply limited the sale of alcoholic beverages. However, in 1885, Maine included prohibition in the state constitution. A repeal effort failed in 1911. In 1934, a year after national prohibition was repealed, Maine’s prohibition of alcohol law was repealed. However, there are still some towns in Maine that prohibit the sale of alcohol within their boundaries.
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Frequently asked questions
Neal Dow, a Quaker and Mayor of Portland, Maine, from 1851 to 1858, was a staunch prohibitionist who helped craft the Maine liquor law.
The Maine Law of 1851 was the first statutory implementation of the developing temperance movement in the United States. It prohibited the manufacture and sale of liquor except for medicinal, mechanical, or manufacturing purposes.
The Maine Law of 1851 was groundbreaking as it laid the groundwork for other states to experiment with temperance laws. By 1855, twelve states had joined Maine in total prohibition, becoming known as "dry" states.
