The Devastating Effects Of Prohibition In The 1920's

Prohibition seemed like a good idea, in concept, but the citizens were much more protective over their alcohol. Once-peaceful area were reduced to violent, aggressive prisons. People wanted their alcohol, and they would stop at nothing to get it back. Prohibition was negative for 1920’s society, causing devastating effects such as an increase in organized crime, encouraged the creation of poisonous moonshines, and led to the corruption of public officials. After the 18th Amendment was passed, consequently making the sale, distribution and production of alcohol illegal, organized crime skyrocketed. Criminals could sell illegal spirits at high prices because it was of great demand, and there was no consistent way to get it. The prices of spirits increased by 24%, and the price of beer boosted 700% (Hanson). This led to the rise of the modern gangster we all associate with the 1920’s. Many of these gangsters sold alcohol to get money. For example, Al Capone made around sixty million dollars a year through

The deadly concoctions could sometimes cause blindness, paralysis and a disease called ¨jake foot¨. Consumption of industrial alcohol became so serious that the government tried to step in and scare away potential drinkers by poisoning the alcohols with substances such as formaldehyde and acetone. This intentional poisoning killed at least ten thousand people (Hanson). Alas, even the government was not safe from the pull of alcohol. Many public officials were rendered corrupt and manipulative. A man by the name of George Cassidy, better known as ¨The Man In The Green Hat¨, would deliver cocktails to House and Senate officials (¨Corruption¨). Some police officers would leave the force and start their own bootlegging trade, paying their former higher-ups to keep their mouths