In the early 1900s, what did it mean for cities to be “dry”? cities had severe water shortages and restricted water usage. cities imposed extremely high taxes on water usage. cities restricted the sale and consumption of alcohol. cities allowed consumption of alcohol as long as it was taxed.

in the early 1900s, to be dry meant that cities restricted the sale and consumption of alcohol.

This concept involved the cities in which alcoholic beverage was banned. Therefore, cities with shortage or without alcoholic beverage was considered to be dry. Consequently, sales or purchases  along with transportation and manufacturing of these beverages were prohibited in the dry cities or states. In US  laws were introduced in order to prohibit the alcoholic beverages. By 1920, nationwide ban was adopted by the states. 

native americans suffered high rates of poverty and unemployment.

during the late 1960s and early 1970sthe need for political militancy grew among the native americans. throughout the 1960s, they had been the nation's poorest minority group, the most deprived group, according to practically every socioeconomic measure. in 1970, the indian unemployment rate was 10 times the national average, and 40 percent of the native american people were below the poverty line.

it was on the rise and doing very well and would continue to do well until the great depression from 1929-1939