How Did Prohibition Cause Crime In The 1920s

555 Words3 Pages

Passed on December 18th, 1917 the United States passed the 18th Amendment, Prohibition. Prohibition was the reason for the large increase in crime in the United States during the 1920s. Prohibition was the restriction of manufacturing, selling, or transporting alcohol or liquor. Disliked by a large majority of the country, specifically upper class. The upper class created hidden bars and clubs called speakeasies. The creation of illegal establishments like speakeasies would be the just the beginning of crime in the 1920s. Bootlegging, the illegal sell of alcohol became commonplace. Gangsters rose to power on the streets of cities like Chicago and New York. Criminals like Al Capone, and Charles “Lucky’ Luciano became household names. Prohibition, intended to fix America’s alcohol problem, only made it worse. …show more content…

People who were against this new amendment began to operate illegally through loopholes to get their alcohol. They founded speakeasies, secretive clubs that permitted drinking, giving the rich a way to drink without the government’s watch. A temperance movement was founded pushing for the new the extremely unpopular new law as well. The temperance movement had originated in the early 19th century and was called for again with prohibition. People absolutely hated this new amendment and some absolutely loved it. Women and children who were part of domestic violence often blamed alcohol for the events they had gone through. Men who thoroughly enjoyed alcohol fought to get rid of the amendment. There were two sides of this new amendment one for and one against. Both had many supporters and both parties had strong opinions for it. However, at the end of Prohibition’s reign a strong consensus were strongly for the removal of this