Prohibition And Bootlegging In The 1920s

Prohibition and Bootlegging in the 1920s

Contents  Temperance  18th Amendment  Aftermath  21st Amendment  Links and Sources

Temperance In order to under stand Prohibition you must first understand the idea of Temperance Many different Temperance Societies were formed during the later 1800s and the early 1900s. These societies sought the prohibition of alcohol for various reasons. While most groups had the public good in mind, others hated This picture is propaganda from the new Irish and German temperance magazine showing immigrants and wanted to punish the the evils of Liquor immigrants because they drank.

Temperance cont. One of the most influential Temperance Societies was the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. It was formed by women of the United States and Europe to influence politicians to ban Alcohol. Some very important Prohibitionists were •Susan B. Anthony •Carrie Nation This is the cover of a temperance These crusaders for their cause influenced magazine called public opinion enough to amend the The Ram’s Horn from Maine, the Constitution of the United States first state to have a prohibition law in

18th Amendment The Noble Experiment  Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.  Section 2. The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.  Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress. The ratification of the 18th amendment was completed January 16, 1919. The manufacture, sale, or transportation of alcohol was now illegal

18th Amendment cont. Congress passed the Volstead Act to enforce the new prohibition on alcohol The law went into effect on January 16th 1920

Aftermath The major problem with prohibition was that a large percent of Americans still wanted to drink. The ban became nearly impossible to enforce because so many people still drank.

Aftermath cont. Even though it was difficult the Government tried to enforce Prohibition. The newly formed Prohibition Bureau tired to stop the flood of liquor, but they seemed to always by short of money and men. CG Destroyer Paulding with seized rum runner alongside The Bureau had a huge task ahead of it. Liquor was pouring into this country from abroad. It was shipped to this country from Europe and the Caribbean. Much of the booze came from Canada. Canada was exporting one million gallons of spirits a year to the U.S.

Aftermath cont. The Bureau didn’t just have to worry about alcohol from foreign countries coming into this country. As many as one half of all the homes in the Many Americans started to make home made alcohol United States made their called moonshine. own moonshine In 1930 the Bureau seized 282,122 stills. Even this didn’t make a dent in the alcohol available. Many prominent American families of today made their fortunes by making and selling moonshine.

Aftermath cont. Americans still wanted places to drink and socialize outside of their homes. Prohibition closed legitimate bars and taverns, so drinking establishments went underground. These places where known as speakeasies because you needed to speak the password to enter. Speakeasies provided an entertaining atmosphere. Jazz music played, people ate This woman is smuggling an and drank. This was the first alcohol flask in her garter. time that men and women People found many different, drank together. Prior to ingenious ways to smuggle Prohibition, just men drank at liquor. Tips of canes and the taverns. insides of hats where also used.

Aftermath cont. Within 5 months of prohibition Chicago had over 600 cases against violators of prohibition Arrests for public drunkenness in Philadelphia more than doubled in 4 years after 1919. The Prohibition wasn’t working.

Aftermath cont. An unforeseen problem with Prohibition was the massive increase in organized crime. Gangs of criminals had been organized in the country for years, but now they could grow and expand their influence due to the money they racked in during prohibition. These gangsters owned the speakeasies, for the most part, so almost all the money the clubs made went to the mobsters. With this money they expanded it to This is the mob shot of Al “Scarface” Capone. Capone other criminal enterprises. The mob also started to bribe public officials. Many judges, lawmakers, ran organized crime in police and Prohibition Bureau members where all Chicago after a bloody on various crime organizations’ payrolls. takeover. He never was prosecuted for his violent crimes, but he was sent to prison for tax evasion

21st Amendment •Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed. •Section 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited. •Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress. The 21th Amendment was ratified Dec 5th 1933 Prohibition failed and the 18th Amendment was repealed by 21st Amendment. It is the only amendment to repeal an other amendment.

21st Amendment cont. The 21st Amendment tried to do away with what turned out to be a mistake in the 18th Amendment. But all of the problems didn’t leave. Organized Crime had a good foothold in this country and plenty of money after the 1920’s and continued to operate. The Grand Experiment had failed.

Conclusion Prohibition started with Temperance movements in the late 1800’s. It gained support and the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified in 1919. But prohibition was unable to be enforced. Too many people still drank. The Prohibition Bureau faced the problems of lack of funds and man power and also corruption. Alcohol flowed into this country from a broad and from within. Much of the alcohol made its way into speakeasies, run by gangsters, who grew in power and influence. After 14 years of Prohibition, the country decided to cut it’s losses and it repealed Prohibition with the 21st Amendment.

Links and sources Amendments to the Constitution This site contains the Constitution of the United States including the Amendments, and is put out by the federal government. Florida State University Prohibition Page This is an excellent source for Prohibition. Court Tv's Crime Library An excellent resource for Al Capone, can also be used for most any criminal. Genesis of Organized Crime in Chicago Resource site, written by long time Chicago police dept. member and professor of Sociology. History Channel Website on Prohibition History Channel site on Prohibition, links to related topics. topics

Links and Sources cont. Photographs used from 20's Politics Rum War: A Photo Gallery And aforementioned sites

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Prohibition And Bootlegging In The 1920s

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Prohibition And Bootlegging In The 1920s — Presentation Transcript