Prohibition & Crime
Essential Question: Would you consider the government’s passage of the 18th Amendment an over-reaction to the problem of alcohol? How do the actions of gangsters/bootleggers support the position that the government and temperance leaders had gone too far?
-I think that the government’s passage of the 18th Amendment was an over-reaction to the problem of alcohol, because they didn’t need to completely cut off alcohol consumption and purchasing to the people. They could have easily made laws that limited people on how much alcohol they could legally consume, how much alcohol they could purchase, or how much alcohol could be produced. Obviously there’s still going to be people not following the laws, but not as many as there were in the 1920’s. The actions of the gangsters and bootleggers support the position that the government and temperance leaders had gone too far, because they started committing crimes and disobeying the laws.
Essential Question: Would you consider the government’s passage of the 18th Amendment an over-reaction to the problem of alcohol? How do the actions of gangsters/bootleggers support the position that the government and temperance leaders had gone too far?
-I think that the government’s passage of the 18th Amendment was an over-reaction to the problem of alcohol, because they didn’t need to completely cut off alcohol consumption and purchasing to the people. They could have easily made laws that limited people on how much alcohol they could legally consume, how much alcohol they could purchase, or how much alcohol could be produced. Obviously there’s still going to be people not following the laws, but not as many as there were in the 1920’s. The actions of the gangsters and bootleggers support the position that the government and temperance leaders had gone too far, because they started committing crimes and disobeying the laws.
18th Amendment
By the late 1800s, prohibition movements had sprung up across the United States, driven by religious groups who considered alcohol, specifically drunkenness, a threat to the nation. The movement reached its climax in 1920 when Congress ratified the 18th Amendment, prohibiting the manufacture, transportation and sale of intoxicating liquors. Prohibition proved difficult to enforce and failed to have the intended effect of eliminating crime and other social problems. It led to a rise in organized crime, and bootlegging of alcohol. Many people discovered ways to manipulate the amendment and get away with different crime, due to the amendment being very broad in detail.In 1933, widespread public disillusionment led Congress to ratify the 21st Amendment, which repealed Prohibition.
By the late 1800s, prohibition movements had sprung up across the United States, driven by religious groups who considered alcohol, specifically drunkenness, a threat to the nation. The movement reached its climax in 1920 when Congress ratified the 18th Amendment, prohibiting the manufacture, transportation and sale of intoxicating liquors. Prohibition proved difficult to enforce and failed to have the intended effect of eliminating crime and other social problems. It led to a rise in organized crime, and bootlegging of alcohol. Many people discovered ways to manipulate the amendment and get away with different crime, due to the amendment being very broad in detail.In 1933, widespread public disillusionment led Congress to ratify the 21st Amendment, which repealed Prohibition.
Volstead Act
It was enacted to carry out the intent of the 18th amendment, which established prohibition of intoxicating beverages, and to regulate the manufacture production, use, and sale of high-proof spirits for other than beverage purposes. Also to promote it’s use in scientific research and the development of fuel, dye, and other lawful industries.
It was enacted to carry out the intent of the 18th amendment, which established prohibition of intoxicating beverages, and to regulate the manufacture production, use, and sale of high-proof spirits for other than beverage purposes. Also to promote it’s use in scientific research and the development of fuel, dye, and other lawful industries.
Violations of the Volstead Act
The government didn’t handle violations of the Volstead Act well. After the Volstead Act was passed, raids and lootings instantly happened all over the country. Police encounters entailed much violence, and at the end of the 1920’s it was said that 1,200 people were killed by officers because of Prohibition. Then police backed off on the violence and were more lenient with violations. Therefore violations were even more rampant and excessive. Bootlegging operations were run by national mobsters such a Charles Luciano, Dutch Schulz Frank Costello, and Al Capone, and they were unstoppable. Policemen and city mayors were bribed, and nobody in the government could be trusted anymore.
The government didn’t handle violations of the Volstead Act well. After the Volstead Act was passed, raids and lootings instantly happened all over the country. Police encounters entailed much violence, and at the end of the 1920’s it was said that 1,200 people were killed by officers because of Prohibition. Then police backed off on the violence and were more lenient with violations. Therefore violations were even more rampant and excessive. Bootlegging operations were run by national mobsters such a Charles Luciano, Dutch Schulz Frank Costello, and Al Capone, and they were unstoppable. Policemen and city mayors were bribed, and nobody in the government could be trusted anymore.
Gangsters & Crime
People in the 1920’s turned more and more to criminal activity and gangs. Organized criminals such as the American mobsters and European crime syndicates thrived, most common people looked upon these organizations as heroes. Also jobs were scarce and people needed to provide for their families, and gangsterism was dangerous but provided an easy way to make money. When the American government passed the Eighteenth amendments outlawing alcohol, people who enjoyed alcohol became criminal for doing so. Bribing government officials was common, and people were increasingly clever in the way they would hide alcohol such as hollowed out canes, false books and hip flasks. Crime on the streets increased as did unemployment. The closure of all alcohol related industries was the main reason behind increased unemployment. The Criminal gangs that supplied the booze were cruel with over inflated prices, often fighting each other for control of the trade. A whole black market was created around alcohol. Most of the gangsters and crime was from the business of illegal bootlegging. Al Capone was the most prominent figure. He carried a force of nearly 1,000 men, and bribed countless more government officials to remain free. Some other key gangsters in the 1920’s include: Machine Gun Kelly, John Torrio (Capone's mentor), Dion O'Banion, and others. This reputation for crime was well deserved, because it was a risky move by the government to prohibit alcohol, which backfired extremely and probably should have not occurred in the first place. It was inevitable that the public would protest the prohibition, and turn to crime and gangsters.
People in the 1920’s turned more and more to criminal activity and gangs. Organized criminals such as the American mobsters and European crime syndicates thrived, most common people looked upon these organizations as heroes. Also jobs were scarce and people needed to provide for their families, and gangsterism was dangerous but provided an easy way to make money. When the American government passed the Eighteenth amendments outlawing alcohol, people who enjoyed alcohol became criminal for doing so. Bribing government officials was common, and people were increasingly clever in the way they would hide alcohol such as hollowed out canes, false books and hip flasks. Crime on the streets increased as did unemployment. The closure of all alcohol related industries was the main reason behind increased unemployment. The Criminal gangs that supplied the booze were cruel with over inflated prices, often fighting each other for control of the trade. A whole black market was created around alcohol. Most of the gangsters and crime was from the business of illegal bootlegging. Al Capone was the most prominent figure. He carried a force of nearly 1,000 men, and bribed countless more government officials to remain free. Some other key gangsters in the 1920’s include: Machine Gun Kelly, John Torrio (Capone's mentor), Dion O'Banion, and others. This reputation for crime was well deserved, because it was a risky move by the government to prohibit alcohol, which backfired extremely and probably should have not occurred in the first place. It was inevitable that the public would protest the prohibition, and turn to crime and gangsters.
“Thinking Like a Historian”
Due to the prohibition of alcohol in the 18th Amendment and Volstead Act, crime and gangsterism skyrocketed in the 1920s. There was a higher rate of unemployment, because businesses weren't able to sell alcohol. This led to people turning to crime and gangs to get money. Also people would bribe the government, and the government allowed leniency and turned untrustworthy. The effect of prohibiting alcohol in the 1920’s had a huge impact on Americans, and turned the U.S into a disaster with crime rates increasing immensely.
Due to the prohibition of alcohol in the 18th Amendment and Volstead Act, crime and gangsterism skyrocketed in the 1920s. There was a higher rate of unemployment, because businesses weren't able to sell alcohol. This led to people turning to crime and gangs to get money. Also people would bribe the government, and the government allowed leniency and turned untrustworthy. The effect of prohibiting alcohol in the 1920’s had a huge impact on Americans, and turned the U.S into a disaster with crime rates increasing immensely.
AAPARTS
Author: Chicago Daily Tribune
Place & Time: April 19, 1926 in Chicago
Prior Knowledge: This was during the era of the 1920s when crime and gangsterism started, because of the prohibition of alcohol in the 18th Amendment. Also the rate of unemployment got extremely high due to the loss of alcohol production.
Audience: This source is intended for the government, because it’s showing the anarchy that is within the American government as shown with the bootlegger being much bigger than the officer, like he’s more powerful than the officer. If the audience was different and intended for the bootleggers and gangsters, then it wouldn’t show them as bad people and that what they were doing was the right thing to do.
Reason: This source was produced during this time, because gangs were taking over and committing a lot of crime. The government needed to step in more, but instead they were lenient which resulted in even more crime. The purpose of this source is to impact government officials and make them question what they are doing.
Main Idea: The main message is that the government needs to take control and stop the anarchy in gangsters. What the government was currently doing was obviously not working.
Author: Chicago Daily Tribune
Place & Time: April 19, 1926 in Chicago
Prior Knowledge: This was during the era of the 1920s when crime and gangsterism started, because of the prohibition of alcohol in the 18th Amendment. Also the rate of unemployment got extremely high due to the loss of alcohol production.
Audience: This source is intended for the government, because it’s showing the anarchy that is within the American government as shown with the bootlegger being much bigger than the officer, like he’s more powerful than the officer. If the audience was different and intended for the bootleggers and gangsters, then it wouldn’t show them as bad people and that what they were doing was the right thing to do.
Reason: This source was produced during this time, because gangs were taking over and committing a lot of crime. The government needed to step in more, but instead they were lenient which resulted in even more crime. The purpose of this source is to impact government officials and make them question what they are doing.
Main Idea: The main message is that the government needs to take control and stop the anarchy in gangsters. What the government was currently doing was obviously not working.
Vocabulary:
- Speakeasy: Speakeasies where illegal bars where drinks where sold, during the time of prohibition. It is called speakeasy, because people literally had to speak easy so they were not caught drinking alcohol by the police.
- Bootlegger: Smugglers of illegal alcohol during the Prohibition Era
By Stephen Paoli