1. Prohibition
Hubbard 2005

2. Ban the Booze!
Prohibition movement– (1880s – 1910s)
Wanted to Prohibit all alcohol.

3. Cut down on the Booze!
Movement to ban alcohol began as the Temperance movement ( ’s)
Called for moderation

4. Why? Temperance and Prohibition supporters believed alcohol caused:
Unemployment
Poverty
Crime
Domestic violence

5. 18th Amendment
Prohibition movement lead to the passage of the 18th Amendment (Jan. 1920)
Outlawed the production, sales, and consumption of alcohol in all of its intoxicating forms.

6. Volstead Act
Volstead Act (A.K.A. The National Prohibition Act) gave enforcement powers to the Federal Government. (Police Powers)
U.S. Treasury Department was to enforce the law.

7. 16th Amendment Created an Income Tax for all citizens.
Nearly 80% of government internal revenue came from Alcohol Excise Taxes before 16th Amendment.
Removed the need for Taxing Alcohol by the government.

8. How did the passage of the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act change the role of the Federal government?

9. Volstead Act Results
Volstead Act resulted in huge increase in Federal Power.
Prohibition was still hard to enforce.

10. Speakeasies and Blind Pigs
Illegal bars
32,000 in NYC alone!
25,000 in Detroit
Blossom Heath in St. Clair Shores, an example.
Kept secret from the police, T-men, and G-men.

11. Bootlegging and Smuggling
Bootlegging – illegal production of alcohol
Smuggling – illegal importation of alcohol
Whiskey and Beer – Canada
Rum – Caribbean

12. Huge Profits!
Huge Profits were made by Rumrunners (Smugglers) and bootleggers.
Both the Kennedy family and the Bush family have been linked to this.
Speakeasies and Blind Pigs also made money.

13. Organized Crime!
Organized Crime grew as the “Big Business” of illegal alcohol trade.
Al Capone – Scarface – Chicago Gangster who profited from Prohibition.
Purple Gang – Detroit (Polish/Jewish) Mafia – Was feared by Capone, who purchased liquor from them.

14. Why was the 18th Amendment repealed?

15. In the End…
Prohibition was the most ignored law in American History.
“Morality Cannot be Legislated”

16. Repealed the 18th Amendment!
Prohibition Repealed!
21st Amendment – 1933
Repealed the 18th Amendment!
No More Prohibition!