Prohibition and United States Society in 1920's Essay

Once the organized crime families were established they were the main contributors to the illegal “Bootlegging” of alcohol. During the 20’s there was a great deal of violent crimes. Most of them could be connected back to the organized crime families. Alphonse Gabriel “Al” Capone was a gangster who led illegal activities such as the smuggling and the bootlegging of alcohol during the prohibition. Even though he had a tough exterior he was a caring man he was the first to open up a soup kitchen in Chicago (hammer). Capone’s estimated annual revenue was around 100 million dollars. He had many men working for him such as Frank Nitti, August Pisano and Louis Morganno. He supplied Chicago with most of its alcohol. (Capone: the man and his era).

There have been many influential events and time periods in history which have directly affected America today such as prohibition and “bootlegging.” The era of prohibition began on January 29th, 1920(Rebman9). Prohibition influenced many things such as the ratification of the 18th and 21st amendment. However, prohibition led to a huge increase in crime rates as well as taking a huge role in the development of NASCAR. Although, many notorious criminals came out of prohibition, by far the most famous would be Alphonse Gabriel Capone, also known as Al Capone.

Knowing that law enforcement would crackdown on his illegal business, he made sure local, state and federal officials were on his payroll to look the other way. He virtually paid off every official in the districts where his breweries were set up. This granted him and his breweries legal immunity. By bribing the crooked law enforcement in his area, he could plan raids to destroy other rival gang’s illegal establishments. Federal agents who did not take bribes and continued to enforce the law were prevented by locals who tipped off gangsters. Every year, Capone paid officials a hulking 15 million dollars but this money did

The prohibition was a period of about 14 years in United States history in which the manufacture, sale, and transportation of liquor, or alcoholic beverage, was made illegal. This took place within the years 1920-1933. Throughout these times, the effects of the prohibition took a great turn on the United States. A large portion of America was upset with the new law and went to great extents to get alcohol illegally. The prohibition was a rough fourteen years for the government and citizens of The United States of America.

“The public reaction to the introduction of prohibition was mixed. Less than one hour after prohibition took effect six gunmen hijacked a train in Chicago and stole over $100,000 worth of whiskey that was marked for medicinal use”. Prohibition led to organized crime. speakeasies, bootleggers, bathtub gin, and “a national wildness called the roaring twenties." Prohibition turned the small gangs that existed in the early 20th century into the powerful mafias that are still around today.

In the 1920s, the 18th Amendment banned a persons right to manufacture and purchase liquor. Banning the transportation, manufacture,and sale of “intoxicating” beverages was known as prohibition, the most controversial law of that century. Prohibition was strongly supported by the government and women in America that were being abused. Important groups of that time being the “Dry’s” and the “Wet’s”. Opponents of prohibition consisted of men who felt that they deserved the right to drink liquor. Owners of saloons, breweries.etc…, these people were called the “Wet’s”. Prohibition lasted for nearly 14 years ending on December 5th, 1933; Prohibition didn’t stop drinking: it just pushed it secretly underground. It created

During the early 20th century, religious Christian churches were preaching that followers of Christ needed to overcome corruption in the world. Religious organizations believed that alcohol was morally corrupt people and was the causes of crime and spousal abuse. With the support of the Anti-Saloon, Christian Organizations, and Women's movement groups the 18th amendment was passed in 1920. The consequentials of the prohibition was the emergence of mobs, crime increased, and alcohol became more dangerous to consume. In 1933, prohibition ended as the results were the opposite of what was expected.

National Prohibition in the United States was an important designed to decrease drinking by canceling the businesses that produce and manufacture, distribute, and sold beverages (alcoholic). 18th Amendment to the American Constitution, which carried to do business from various sellers vintners, distillers, wholesaler, retails and brewers of alcoholic beverages. Many leaders prohibited movement, which were alarmed on the drinking behavior of the citizens, who were more concerned that was a culture of drink with some of the sectors of the total population that was spreading the immigration with continuing from Europe. The strength, prohibition movements increase and grew, after the formation, especially anti saloon league in 1893. The organization and the other league supported prohibition of the union such as woman’s Christian temperance union, later it began to get success in the prohibition law in the local area.

The prohibition of alcohol in the United States lasted from 1920 until 1932. The movement began in the late nineteenth century, and was fueled by the formation of the Anti-Saloon League in 1893 (Why Prohibition?). This league and other anti-alcohol organizations, began to succeed in establishing local prohibition laws. By the 1920's prohibition was a national effort.

The prohibition was a divided experiment that unintentionally brought organized crime, flourished the presence of speakeasies in America and created a high rise of criminals in America. The backfiring of the prohibition brought America an uprising in organized crime; criminals and the consumption, manufacturing and selling of alcohol became more expensive and profitable to those involved. Silk suits, guns, money and booze were the popular credentials amongst the finest in the bootlegging and mob business. The prohibition had been recognized as an extraordinary business opportunity and was exploited as such. In most major cities, gangs had been stocking up on alcohol in anticipation for the beginning of the ban, leaving them with a guaranteed profit. Alcohol became a keen part of the more urban culture of the 1920s despite the ban. People sought out alcohol at illegal bars, known as speakeasies and through bootlegging. The authorities of the time had earned the reputation of turning a blind eye to the illegal consumption and production of alcohol, for the right price. Gangsters ruled the cities and in most cases, owned their streets. " Bribing government officials was common, and people were increasingly crafty in the way they would hide alcohol such as hollowed out canes, false books and hip flasks. Violence on the streets increased, as did unemployment. " Tim Nash, The Finer Times The prohibition created drastic changes in the way of thinking for the common criminal. The

In 1920 prohibition started in the United States, this was a legal act that outlawed the manufacturing, transport and sale of alcohol. Though this law only lasted till 1933 it had an extremely large impact on America while it was still in place. It is important for the people of America today to learn about prohibition in order to prevent causing the problems that prohibition created then in today’s society. While the intention of the ban of alcohol was meant to be a good thing it did not turn out as such in the long run. If people in America learn about the past here it can help in preventing them from making the same mistakes again and bettering our country instead of possibly hurting it.

The US government got support from the Woman’s Organization for Prohibition Reform with major prohibitionist such as Susan B Anthony (Hong). These reforms claimed that “consuming liquor resulted in abusive relationships and broken families” (Stevens). So the Prohibition was mandated by the 18th amendment to the constitution. Prohibition was approved by 36 states on December 18th, 1917. However

Al Capone used prohibition to build a crime empire unparalleled in United States history. He started as a member of John Torrio's gang in Chicago. Torrio was a notorious gangster and bootlegger, and after he was shot in 1922 Capone became the leader of his gang. He quickly expanded the business, and by 1930 "controlled speakeasies, bookie joints, gambling houses, brothels, horse and race tracks, nightclubs, distilleries and breweries at a reported income of $100,000,000 a year." (History Files 1) By bribing police and prohibition agents, he was able to get away with almost anything he did. Capone was the first and last gangster to openly flaunt his crimes. He was somewhat of a celebrity in Chicago and admitted what he did with quotes suck as: "All I've ever done is to supply a public demand - you can't cure a thirst by a law ... It's bootleg when it's on the trucks, but when your host hands it to you on a silver tray, it's hospitality ... They say I violate Prohibition. Who doesn't?"(Michell 39) Capone also believed

The liquor debate often turned urban anti-prohibition Americans against countryside pro-prohibition dwellers. The Anti-Saloon League first focused on the local option which gave voters the power to ban the selling of alcoholic beverages. That approach seemed too slow for league supporters and they then turned toward the states. In 1907 Oklahoma became the first to adopt Prohibition. Eight other states banned alcohol selling by 1914. Drys or prohibitionists in Congress in 1913 passed the Webb-Kenyon Act. This act made shipping alcohol into dry states illegal. The bill was vetoed by President Taft but became law anyways because Congress overrode his veto. The League’s next step was to ban alcoholic sales in the United States by having Congress adopt an amendment to the Constitution.

Prohibition, which was also known as The Noble Experiment, lasted in America from 1920 until 1933. There are quite a few results of this experiment: innocent people suffered; organized crime grew into an empire; the police, courts, and politicians became increasingly corrupt; disrespect for the law grew; and the per capita consumption of the prohibited substance—alcohol—increased dramatically, year by year. These results increased each of the thirteen years of this Noble Experiment, and they never returned to the levels that existed before 1920. Prohibition did not happen instantly, it settled on the country gradually, community by community, town by town, and eventually state by state for almost a century. The onset of National