Prohibition: The Ways Around the Law The 1920’s were a time of dramatic social and political changes. During this time, more Americans lived in cities than farms for the first time. America’s wealth doubled between 1920 and 1929, and people from all over the country carried the same cultural activities such as listening to the same music, doing the same dances, and even using the same slang terms. As the people in this time period grew closer together, they also shared the same challenges. While many good things did come from this time period, there were some bad things occurring in the society, too. The “Roaring Twenties” are known as the period of prohibition. “On January 29, 1920, the 18th amendment was put into effect” (Burns). This amendment …show more content…
People began to find ways around the amendment by establishing 200,000 speakeasies to replace saloons. These were illegal bars that acquired their name because of the need to keep their secrecy. In fact, some people who were frequent customers were even required to say a password to be allowed in. Speakeasies were run in the back rooms and basements of homes and sold alcohol on the low in areas where it was prohibited by law. “However, because the owners did not operate the speakeasies without a proper license of permit, they were subject to occasional raids that would force owners to quickly hide any alcohol and dispense any activity that resembled professional …show more content…
“In New York City alone, 15,000 saloons were replaced by 32,000 speakeasies” (Sifakis). Liquor was brought in by bootleggers and rumrunners illegally from outside the borders. Many prohibition agents violated the law by accepting bribes, and many of them, once caught, were fired on the spot. “The treasury department reported that between 1920 and 1928 the government fired 706 agents and prosecuted another 257 for taking bribes”(Sifakis). While corruption became one of the most known problems in prohibition, organized gangs became another. For example, the Purple gang of Detroit became one of the most well-known gangs associated with prohibition. “They controlled much of the liquor supplies smuggled in from Canada” (Sifakis). In Cleveland, the Mayfield Road Gang was formed, and in Chicago, Al Capone was recognized as the nation’s most prominent Prohibition gangster. “It has been estimated that Capone himself made $60 million from bootlegging and rumrunning” (Sifakis). Because of the profits being made from illegal alcohol distribution, mobs realized they could corrupt feds, police, and government workers, and eventually, mobs had more power than the politicians. People continued to disrespect the law as it became more common to make your own liquor or drink in your houses or in