Prohibition and Organized Crime 14.2 Part 2

Prohibition Progressives had called on a ban on alcohol Progressives had called on a ban on alcohol T o combat crime, family violence, and poverty T o combat crime, family violence, and poverty 18 th Amendment – prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages 18 th Amendment – prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages Ratified in 1919 Ratified in 1919

The Volstead Act Passed in October 1919 Passed in October 1919 Purpose was to legally enforce the 18 th amendment Purpose was to legally enforce the 18 th amendment Did not make it illegal to consume alcoholic beverages Did not make it illegal to consume alcoholic beverages Some regions strictly enforce prohibition – consumption declined Some regions strictly enforce prohibition – consumption declined Many cities prohibition was unpopular and ignored Many cities prohibition was unpopular and ignored

Speakeasies Speakeasies – Bars that illegally sold alcohol Speakeasies – Bars that illegally sold alcohol Many made their own liquor or purchased bootlegged alcohol from Mexico and Canada Many made their own liquor or purchased bootlegged alcohol from Mexico and Canada New York City: est. 30,000 to 100,000 speakeasies New York City: est. 30,000 to 100,000 speakeasies

Bootlegging Making, transporting, or selling illegal alcoholic beverages Making, transporting, or selling illegal alcoholic beverages Became one of the decade’s most profitable businesses Became one of the decade’s most profitable businesses Led to the development of organized crime in cities like Chicago Led to the development of organized crime in cities like Chicago Rumrunner – cross state lines Rumrunner – cross state lines Moon-shiner – work at night Moon-shiner – work at night

The Development of Organized Crime Due to profit potential many wanted to bootleg Due to profit potential many wanted to bootleg Al Capone – Al Capone – Ruled Chicago’s bootlegging scene with his mob Ruled Chicago’s bootlegging scene with his mob Made over $120 million per year Made over $120 million per year

St. Valentine’s Day Massacre The peak of Chicago’s prohibition gang wars The peak of Chicago’s prohibition gang wars Capone’s gang publicly killed seven members of a rival Moran gang Capone’s gang publicly killed seven members of a rival Moran gang

Elliot Ness & The Untouchables Hired by the Federal Prohibition Bureau Hired by the Federal Prohibition Bureau Refused to ignore bootlegging like many corrupt local police Refused to ignore bootlegging like many corrupt local police Ended Capone’s reign in 1931 on income tax evasion Ended Capone’s reign in 1931 on income tax evasion

“Doubts raced through my mind as I considered the feasibility of enforcing a law, which the majority of honest citizens didn’t seem to want.” -Elliot Ness

Prohibition Positives: Alcoholism declined Alcohol related deaths declined Negatives: Led to widespread breakdown of the law Turned millions of otherwise law abiding citizens into criminals

21 st Amendment 1933 – Franklin Roosevelt 1933 – Franklin Roosevelt Repealed the 18 th amendment and ended prohibition Repealed the 18 th amendment and ended prohibition