Final answer:
Men with Bottles represents the historical significance of alcohol in American lives, its role in societal and health issues, and its prohibition during the expansion of the USA, highlighting cultural shifts and the Progressive movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The representation of men with bottles during the expansion of the USA can be traced back to the significant role alcohol played in American society and its eventual regulation. In the early days, alcohol consumption was ubiquitous, with the Mayflower transporting barrels of beer and whiskey being a staple of the frontier lifestyle for its preservative qualities.
However, concerns about the societal impacts of alcohol grew over time, with figures like Dr. Benjamin Rush and Lyman Beecher criticizing its effects on health and society. As the United States grew and incorporated a diverse population with varying drinking traditions, social ills associated with heavy drinking became more pronounced, especially in immigrant communities.
Eventually, the 18th Amendment was passed, prohibiting the production and sale of alcoholic beverages, which was fueled by the temperance movement, changes in politics after World War I, the availability of safe drinking water, and the implementation of income taxes. The prohibition era saw concerted efforts to enforce these laws, notably depicted in prohibition-era images like that of New York City law enforcement overseeing the pouring of alcohol into a sewer.
The struggle with alcohol regulation reflects the broader narrative of American expansion and cultural changes. This included evolving economic conditions, shifts in political power, and the Progressive movement, where prohibition was viewed in part as a means to rectify the damage inflicted upon families and society by excessive drinking.