Prohibition And Crime In The 1920s

Prohibition

The prohibition had been discussed long before it was ever passed. Many organizations and people wanted it to be passed because they believed that alcohol was the stem of violence and crime. In the 1920s crime was at a high as well as alcohol related deaths, leading to the belief that if alcohol is taken away it will eliminate the amount crime and death. The Roaring Twenties was a time of despair, as the prohibition brought a multitude of crime due to the passing of the 18th Amendment.

The Women's Christian Temperance Union was founded in 1874 to bring attention to labor laws, prison reform, and suffrage. The leader of the WCTU passed away in 1898 which brought the Union to lose sight of their overall mission. It was brought back

“The government set up the "Federal Prohibition Bureau" to police prohibition, this did not deter people and organized crime continued to be the main supplier of booze.” (Nash) Although the 18th amendment was passed many people continued to consume alcohol. The crime actually went up due to the fact that illegal bars were serving alcohol. The illegal bars were feening for more alcohol causing crime to go up as people smuggled alcohol into the United States. Death by alcohol poisoning also went up because people were making their own alcohol using cleaners and anything with an alcohol concentrate. These people were called “Bootleggers” they not only consumed the toxic drink but they also sold it, which was illegal. While the crimes were thought to have been decreased this was not the case, there was still crime just a new kind. “As Prohibition began in 1919 after the 18th amendment went into effect, new bootlegging operations opened up and drew in immense wealth” (Biography.com) An infamous gangster from the 1920s era is Al Capone. He was the leader of the Chicago Mafia, he smuggled millions of gallons of alcohol to Chicago from New York, Capone was also involved in dozens of murders. He was investigated many times by local police and the FBI. Although he was never caught on alcohol charges he was arrested for tax evasion and was put on trail in front of the grand jury. “The grand jury later

During this time “Speakeasies” were formed, an “underground” type of club that served alcohol. These clubs were referred to as speakeasies because customers had to speak easy when talking in or about them. They were started because most people during the Prohibition era still wanted to drink and have a good time. “Speakeasies” were easily the most common place to go out drinking during the prohibition, they started gaining attention in 1920 “By 1925, there were thousands of speakeasy clubs operating out of New York City” (Okrent) The first of these clubs were opened in New York City, New York. Later the clubs began to pop up everywhere, they were secretive meaning to get in they had to know someone. Being as secretive as they were word still managed to get out. They were often raided by police to assure that no illegal activity was going on. While most establishments hid alcohol in the pop-up bars there were many other techniques, “Speakeasy clubs claimed to sell soft drinks and coffee, but served alcohol behind the scenes - some famously served in coffee cups.”(Alchin) Owners of the clubs were almost always prepared for these raids, “Their illegal contraband hidden in drop-shelves and secret cabinets.”(Wieser) some owners didn’t even flinch to raids “Other establishments didn’t even bother with hiding or disguising the liquor, as they paid out part of their profits