Prohibition The Noble Experiment

Prohibition Thought of by the Progressives Thought of by the Progressives Was a plan to stop people from drinking alcoholic beverages Was a plan to stop people from drinking alcoholic beverages

18 th Amendment Added to the Constitution in 1919 Added to the Constitution in 1919 Made the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages illegal Made the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages illegal

Goals of Prohibition Reduce Crime Reduce Crime Reduce Poverty Reduce Poverty Lower Death Rates Lower Death Rates Improve the Quality of Life Improve the Quality of Life

Prohibition “The Noble Experiment” Prohibition was meant to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poor houses, and improve health and hygiene in America.

Carrie Nation Was a crusader for prohibition Was a crusader for prohibition Used a hatchet to split wooden kegs and smash bottles of alcoholic beverages Used a hatchet to split wooden kegs and smash bottles of alcoholic beverages

Carrie Nation

Prohibition Fails Instead prohibition lead to more crime and corruption and even more social problems.

Bootleggers Smuggled liquor from overseas and Canada, stole it from government warehouses, or made their own Smuggled liquor from overseas and Canada, stole it from government warehouses, or made their own Illegal speak-easies replaced saloons during prohibition Illegal speak-easies replaced saloons during prohibition

Bootleggers Running from the Law

Crash While a Bootlegger was Running from Revenuers

Speak Easies

Organized Crime Organized gangs controlled most of the bootlegging industry. Organized gangs controlled most of the bootlegging industry. Gangs bribed federal agents and city officials leading to corruption among the police. Gangs bribed federal agents and city officials leading to corruption among the police. Rival gangs would fight over money and this led to over 400 gang related murders in Chicago alone. Rival gangs would fight over money and this led to over 400 gang related murders in Chicago alone.

Gangsters Al Capone Al Capone Bugs Moran Bugs Moran

Al Capone

Why Did Prohibition Fail? Prohibition failed because the policy was pretty much unenforceable Prohibition failed because the policy was pretty much unenforceable Only 5% of smuggled liquor was actually stopped from coming into the country Only 5% of smuggled liquor was actually stopped from coming into the country Gangs overpowered or bribed authority figures Gangs overpowered or bribed authority figures

Problems Caused by Prohibition Instead of lowering the crime rate prohibition actually lead to an increase in crime. Instead of lowering the crime rate prohibition actually lead to an increase in crime. Large amounts of money could be made from illegal bootlegging. Large amounts of money could be made from illegal bootlegging.

The End of Prohibition The 21 st Amendment ended prohibition in 1933

Results of Prohibition Americans began to drink more hard liquor Americans began to drink more hard liquor Americans drank more potent drinks and became more drunk by drinking less Americans drank more potent drinks and became more drunk by drinking less Illegally made products had no standards so people began to die from poisoned liquor. Illegally made products had no standards so people began to die from poisoned liquor.

Results of Prohibition Organized crime grew into an empire Organized crime grew into an empire Disrespect for the law grew Disrespect for the law grew Consumption of alcohol increased dramatically Consumption of alcohol increased dramatically