Prohibition and Crime
Vocabulary for this chapter...
- Speakeasy- a saloon or nightclub selling alcoholic beverages illegally, especially during Prohibition.
- Bootlegger- someone who sells, makes, or transports alcoholic liquor unlawfully
The 18th Amendment: Effective?
The 18th amendment was passed in 1919 and was put into action in 1920, marking the start of the decade. The Women's Temperance Union had pushed for this amendment, hoping to save those who fell to abuse due to alcohol.
Many, however, paid the amendment little mind. Many people called bootleggers emerged along with their speakeasies. Men and women alike came out to drink the illegal liquor.There were problems with this though. Only the rich could afford the alcoholic drinks because it was so expensive.
Not everyone was enthusiastic about the speakeasies. Some people believed the amendment would get people to enrich themselves and their lives. For example, Amy McPherson recalls,
"lecturer who gave a marvelous address on prohibition. And he wound up in a blaze of glory that brought everyone to their feet enthusiastically. 'Why is it my friends, if I had my way, do you know what I’d do? I’d take every barrel of liquor, every bottle of booze, every crate, and I’d empty it in the river'" (historymatters.edu).
Some people did not really care either way because it did not affect their lives. For instance, Billy Sunday stated " I don’t give a hoot for the regulation of the sale of liquor. If we must have booze, well let’s sell it in a saloon where it belongs. That’s where it belongs" (historymatters.edu).
All in all, the amendment was not very effective. The amendment would, in fact, be repealed in 1933 with the 21st amendment.
Many, however, paid the amendment little mind. Many people called bootleggers emerged along with their speakeasies. Men and women alike came out to drink the illegal liquor.There were problems with this though. Only the rich could afford the alcoholic drinks because it was so expensive.
Not everyone was enthusiastic about the speakeasies. Some people believed the amendment would get people to enrich themselves and their lives. For example, Amy McPherson recalls,
"lecturer who gave a marvelous address on prohibition. And he wound up in a blaze of glory that brought everyone to their feet enthusiastically. 'Why is it my friends, if I had my way, do you know what I’d do? I’d take every barrel of liquor, every bottle of booze, every crate, and I’d empty it in the river'" (historymatters.edu).
Some people did not really care either way because it did not affect their lives. For instance, Billy Sunday stated " I don’t give a hoot for the regulation of the sale of liquor. If we must have booze, well let’s sell it in a saloon where it belongs. That’s where it belongs" (historymatters.edu).
All in all, the amendment was not very effective. The amendment would, in fact, be repealed in 1933 with the 21st amendment.
Violations to the Volstead Act
The Volstead Act outlined exactly which "intoxicating drinks" were prohibited. This act helped to leave out religious practices, etc.
Many still did not pay attention to the 18th amendment or the Volstead act. As many as 100,00 speakeasies popped up in New York alone. Due to the many violations, federal an state law enforcers could not and would not crack down on every single case of violation. There were simply too many and it would have become too expensive for states and the country.
Instead of making the people more friendly and less drunk, the people became drunk with the idea of alcohol. More people became open to the idea of public protesting and organized crime. Most would stop at nothing for a drink.
Many still did not pay attention to the 18th amendment or the Volstead act. As many as 100,00 speakeasies popped up in New York alone. Due to the many violations, federal an state law enforcers could not and would not crack down on every single case of violation. There were simply too many and it would have become too expensive for states and the country.
Instead of making the people more friendly and less drunk, the people became drunk with the idea of alcohol. More people became open to the idea of public protesting and organized crime. Most would stop at nothing for a drink.
Gangsters and Crime
Organized crime was a side effect of sorts to the Prohibition. When police began getting invovled in shutting down places that sold liquor, so did people looking to make money. Bootlegging became the most popular form of organized crime.
Some of the most famous mobs and gangs included Al Capone's in Chicago and others in large cities such as Detroit and New York.
This time was so widely known for its organized crime and bosses beacuse the 1920s was the roots of gangs and their reign.
Some of the most famous mobs and gangs included Al Capone's in Chicago and others in large cities such as Detroit and New York.
This time was so widely known for its organized crime and bosses beacuse the 1920s was the roots of gangs and their reign.
APPARTS - The 18th Amendment
Author- Wayne Wheeler wrote the bill proposing this amendment. He was part of the Anti-Saloon Leauge.
Place and Time- This was ratified on January 16th, 1919. This marked the beginning of the Roaring Twenties. Without this amendment, many of the events that took place during the decade to follow may not have happened.
Prior Knowledge- Many speakeasies and secret passages were formed in order to violate the 18th amendment and continue consumption of liquor. Organized crime was inspired by this act as well.
Audience- This source was meant to reach the people of America that had drinking problems and to save families that fell victims of abuse due to alcohol consumption. The source probably would not even exist if there had been a different audience.
Reason- This source was meant to get rid of the problem of alcohol. Many associations had been fighting for decades to get legislation like this passed. They meant to stop the problem at its source, so they banned alcohol altogether.
The Main Idea- The author was intending to get people to straighten out their lives and not turn so quickly to alcohol.
Place and Time- This was ratified on January 16th, 1919. This marked the beginning of the Roaring Twenties. Without this amendment, many of the events that took place during the decade to follow may not have happened.
Prior Knowledge- Many speakeasies and secret passages were formed in order to violate the 18th amendment and continue consumption of liquor. Organized crime was inspired by this act as well.
Audience- This source was meant to reach the people of America that had drinking problems and to save families that fell victims of abuse due to alcohol consumption. The source probably would not even exist if there had been a different audience.
Reason- This source was meant to get rid of the problem of alcohol. Many associations had been fighting for decades to get legislation like this passed. They meant to stop the problem at its source, so they banned alcohol altogether.
The Main Idea- The author was intending to get people to straighten out their lives and not turn so quickly to alcohol.
Thinking Like a Historian
Turning Points
By passing the 18th amendment, many would refuse to follow its prohibition of alcohol. This was a truning point because it would cause the greatest cases of organized crime and would start some of the most widely known gangs that are still around even today. This would affect the lives of people all across the nation, both then and now. From children to adult, many are turning to gangs even today for various reasons. Had their not been a prohibition and people willing and ready to violate it, this may have never happened.
By passing the 18th amendment, many would refuse to follow its prohibition of alcohol. This was a truning point because it would cause the greatest cases of organized crime and would start some of the most widely known gangs that are still around even today. This would affect the lives of people all across the nation, both then and now. From children to adult, many are turning to gangs even today for various reasons. Had their not been a prohibition and people willing and ready to violate it, this may have never happened.
Essential Questions
- 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?