Bootlegging originally referred to the practice of concealing flasks of liquor in boot tops when trading with Native Americans in the Midwest in the 1880s. The term became widely used during Prohibition (1920-1933) in the U.S. to describe the illegal manufacture, transport, or sale of alcoholic beverages. Bootleggers produced large quantities of low-quality gin and moonshine, causing many fatalities from tainted liquor. The commodities were in high demand, creating debate over legalization after Prohibition ended.
The term “bootlegging” was also used for unauthorized recordings distributed without artist consent. Both bootlegging and piracy cause financial losses for copyright holders and harm creators’ reputations. Measures to prevent intellectual property infringement are important.
Johnny Torrio expanded a Chicago crime empire into bootlegging in the early 1920s. Large rum-running operations ran between Vancouver, Windsor, and Los Angeles. Bootleggers plied their trade across Canada and both U.S. coasts between 1920-1933.
How did the term get this name bootlegging?