People moved from small towns and agricultural communities to the city Great Migration Cities had less conservative morals that smaller towns People moving into the city were not ready to cope with the crowding, job competition, and unfriendliness of the city RURAL VS. URBAN
PROHIBITION 18 th Amendment Manufacturing, sale, and transportation of alcohol was illegal Why get rid of alcohol? Drys: Wets: Volstead Act: law that made alcohol illegal
Reasons for Prohibition by 1830 Americans consumed 7.1 gallons of alcohol per person Many saw alcohol as the cause of societies problems -Abuse of women and children, joblessness, crime in the late 1800’s there were more saloons than schools, libraries, parks, theatres, hospitals, etc. Many women’s rights groups advocated (supported) prohibition
SPEAKEASIES AND BOOTLEGGERS Speakeasies: Underground or hidden saloon. Bootleggers: People who smuggled alcohol into the country
Enforcing the Law Department of the Treasury enforced the law sought out illegal alcohol and dumped it Led to organized crime
ORGANIZED CRIME Started in response to prohibition Al Capone bootlegged and had 10,000 speakeasies “Ran Chicago”
By the mid 1920’s only 19 percent of Americans still supported prohibition It lasted from th Amendment enforced it 21 st Amendment repealed it Only Amendment to be repealed END OF PROHBITION
Today