To PROHIBIT = to end/stop/ban PROHIBITION To PROHIBIT = to end/stop/ban

What was prohibition? Prohibition: banning of alcohol 18th amendment: prohibition of the manufacture, sale, transportation of alcohol Fun fact: Wilson vetoed this, but Congress overruled him! YOU DON’T HAVE TO WRITE ANYTHING DOWN UNTIL WE GET TO THE EFFECTS

Some historical context… 1820s and 1830s: huge return to Christianity in the USA  Temperance Movement – people who were critical of alcohol consumption and advocated total abstinence from drinking  mainly women Conflict between rural and urban areas Rural areas generally more conservative and against drinking Urban areas very pro-drinking Influenced by immigrants, too

So, why? 1. Moral reasons Alcohol was thought to be bad Most rural areas were ‘dry’ – no alcohol – while cities were ‘wet’ – lots of alcohol 2. WWI – save wheat for troops; it’s unpatriotic to drink 1917 - Wilson issued a ban on liquor to help the war effort 1919 – Congress ratified (passed) the National Prohibition Act January 1920 – Prohibition begins 1933 – Prohibition was repealed But, many americans wanted to enjoy life – especially after the war

DRYS VS. WETS Arguments to ban alcohol Arguments to keep alcohol legal Improved individuals Strengthens families Creates a better and more stable society Stops bad decision making and diseases Did not stop Americans from drinking – they’d find new ways to do it Turn law abiding citizens into criminals Create illegal networks and increase crime, violence, corruption, etc In the 1920s, would you have been wet or dry? For or against the banning of alcohol?

EFFECTS MOONSHINE/ “HOOCH” INCREASE IN ORGANIZED CRIME EFFECTS OF PROHIBITION POLITICAL CORRUPTION Generated huge disrespect of the law! SPEAKEASIES

Speakeasies Secret Bars Sold “Bootleg” Alcohol Needed a password to get in Sold “Bootleg” Alcohol Illegally made or purchased Bootleggers = people who illegally make or transport alcohol Before Prohibition there were 15,000 bars in New York. By 1926 there were 30,000 speakeasies!

Moonshine/Hooch Spirit made secretly in home made stills Fun (?) Fact: Or, bathtubs – “bathtub gin” Fun (?) Fact: Because it was no longer regulated by the government, lack of standards on alcohol caused a rise in poisoned liquor deaths - 1920=1,064 - 1925=4,154 Wood alcohol! People would try to make alcohol from wood. And died. Because it’s so poisonous.

Organized Crime Gangsters: Owned illegal businesses, speakeasies, and/or distilleries

Al Capone: Scar Face Controlled the south side of Chicago By 1927; Earning $60 million a year from bootlegging His gang was like a private army. He had 700 men under his control Responsible for 500 murders Bought off anyone he could including: Judges Police Congressmen Juries

VALENTINES DAY MASSACRE AL-CAPONE (NORTH SIDE GANGSTER) V BUGGS MORAN (SOUTH SIDE GANGSTER) Bootleg Rivalry Delivery: Warehouse 2122 N. Clark St. 7 Moran Men Waited Al Capone’s men arrived dressed as police Moran’s men all killed

21st Amendment: repealed 18th (1933)