Conspiracy theories influenced American Revolution; spread by figures like Samuel Adams fueled revolutionary sentiments.
Government poisoning of industrial alcohol during Prohibition era shed light on dark side of the period.
Deep dives
The Origin of American Revolution and the Role of Conspiracy Theories
In the colonial era, the American Revolution was influenced by conspiracy theories. The introduction of the Stamp Act by Britain incited protests from colonists who believed in a conspiracy by the British to enslave them. Samuel Adams, a key figure in the Revolution, spread the conspiracy theory that Britain aimed to make the colonists slaves, leading to increased tensions and eventually the Boston Massacre. The spread of fabricated accounts by Adams fueled revolutionary sentiments.
The Chemist War During Prohibition
During Prohibition in the 1920s, a chemist war erupted between the government and bootleggers. With the ban on alcohol production, bootleggers resorted to stealing industrial alcohol and hired chemists to remove contaminants for consumption. In response, the government intentionally poisoned industrial alcohol to deter drinkers. The toxic concoctions caused numerous deaths, shedding light on the dark side of the Prohibition era.
Conspiracy Theories in the Wake of JFK's Assassination
Following the assassination of JFK in 1963, conspiracy theories emerged due to the government's immediate identification of Lee Harvey Oswald as the lone gunman. The event sparked a wave of skepticism and furthered the era of suspicion with subsequent major assassinations and political unrest in the 1960s. The lack of transparency from the government and the public's distrust fueled an environment ripe for conspiracy thinking.
The Church Committee's Revelations and Proliferation of Conspiracies
The Church Committee investigation in the mid-1970s exposed real government conspiracies, including FBI spying and CIA experiments, confirming suspicions and adding credibility to conspiracy theories. The revelations deepened skepticism towards the government and allowed conspiracy theories to flourish, reflecting a turning point in modern American history.
This week we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes about one of our favorite topics: Conspiracy theories. They're a feature of today's news and politics. But they've really been a part of American life since its founding. In this episode, we'll explore how conspiracy theories helped to create the U.S. and how they became the currency of political opportunists.