Prohibition Wets vs. Drys

Origins Although the Temperance movement had been around for decades, it gained increased traction during WWI. Rationing of grains (corn, wheat, barley) used to make alcohol A “Women’s Issue” Increased prominence of women in society

The Ban takes effect 18th Amendment Volstead Act Passed by Congress 1917 Ratified by states 1919 Volstead Act Set up the specific rules of Prohibition Gave law enforcement tools to enforce 18 Amendment

Wets Vs. Drys A cultural issue, not just a legal one Election of 1928 Alcohol strongly associated with Catholicism, urbanism, and modernism Election of 1928 Hoover vs. Smith Dry vs. Wet Protestant vs. Catholic Political Cartoons http://americainclass.org/sources/becomingmodern/divisions/text4/politicalcartoonsprohibition.pdf

Rise of the Bootleggers

Flouting the law Bootleggers Al Capone Small time vs. Organized Crime http://www.britishpathe.com/video/the-dodgers-a-prohibition-sidelight-from-buffalo/query/prohibition Al Capone One of the most famous bootlegging (and other organized crime) leaders “I make my money from supplying a public demand. If I break the law, my customers, who number hundreds of the best people in Chicago, are as guilty as I am. The only difference between us is that I sell and they buy. Everybody calls me a racketeer. I call myself a businessman.” St. Valentine’s Day Massacre http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0214.html#article Convicted of Tax Evasion, sent to Alcatraz

St. Valentine’s day massacre Outside the warehouse on North Clark Street where the shooting took place.