100 years ago today, the violent activist who helped kickstart Prohibition died

Carrie Nation was, shall we say, an exuberant woman. She was a key figure in the Temperance Movement, which paved the way for one of the most idiotic laws in American history, the Volstead Act. With it came Prohibition -- along with murder, organized crime, corruption, and other fun pastimes.

Mrs. Nation wasn't merely against alcohol. She believed in violent protests. She was known for raiding bars with a hatchet, leading groups of women inside to smash the place to pieces. That's right, a hatch-wielding old lady who roved the country chopping up taverns because damnit, people shouldn't drink. Surely she was a joy of a woman.

Today, 100 years ago, she keeled over before having a chance to see her dreams of prohibition become reality.

How sad.