1. To PROHIBIT = to end/stop/ban
PROHIBITION
To PROHIBIT = to end/stop/ban

2. What was prohibition? Prohibition: banning of alcohol
18th amendment: prohibition of the manufacture, sale, transportation of alcohol
Fun fact: Wilson vetoed this, but Congress overruled him!
YOU DON’T HAVE TO WRITE ANYTHING DOWN UNTIL WE GET TO THE EFFECTS

3. Some historical context…
1820s and 1830s: huge return to Christianity in the USA
 Temperance Movement – people who were critical of alcohol consumption and advocated total abstinence from drinking
 mainly women
Conflict between rural and urban areas
Rural areas generally more conservative and against drinking
Urban areas very pro-drinking
Influenced by immigrants, too

4. So, why?
1. Moral reasons
Alcohol was thought to be bad
Most rural areas were ‘dry’ – no alcohol – while cities were ‘wet’ – lots of alcohol
2. WWI – save wheat for troops; it’s unpatriotic to drink
Wilson issued a ban on liquor to help the war effort
1919 – Congress ratified (passed) the National Prohibition Act
January 1920 – Prohibition begins
1933 – Prohibition was repealed
But, many americans wanted to enjoy life – especially after the war

5. DRYS VS. WETS Arguments to ban alcohol Arguments to keep alcohol legal
Improved individuals
Strengthens families
Creates a better and more stable society
Stops bad decision making and diseases
Did not stop Americans from drinking – they’d find new ways to do it
Turn law abiding citizens into criminals
Create illegal networks and increase crime, violence, corruption, etc
In the 1920s, would you have been wet or dry? For or against the banning of alcohol?

7. EFFECTS MOONSHINE/ “HOOCH” INCREASE IN ORGANIZED CRIME
EFFECTS OF PROHIBITION
POLITICAL CORRUPTION
Generated huge disrespect of the law!
SPEAKEASIES

8. Speakeasies Secret Bars Sold “Bootleg” Alcohol
Needed a password to get in
Sold “Bootleg” Alcohol
Illegally made or purchased
Bootleggers = people who illegally make or transport alcohol
Before Prohibition there were 15,000 bars in New York. By 1926 there were 30,000 speakeasies!

9. Moonshine/Hooch Spirit made secretly in home made stills Fun (?) Fact:
Or, bathtubs – “bathtub gin”
Fun (?) Fact:
Because it was no longer regulated by the government, lack of standards on alcohol caused a rise in poisoned liquor deaths
- 1920=1,064
- 1925=4,154
Wood alcohol! People would try to make alcohol from wood. And died. Because it’s so poisonous.

10. Organized Crime Gangsters:
Owned illegal businesses, speakeasies, and/or distilleries

11. Al Capone: Scar Face Controlled the south side of Chicago
By 1927; Earning $60 million a year from bootlegging
His gang was like a private army. He had 700 men under his control
Responsible for 500 murders
Bought off anyone he could including:
Judges
Police
Congressmen
Juries

12. VALENTINES DAY MASSACRE
AL-CAPONE (NORTH SIDE GANGSTER) V BUGGS MORAN (SOUTH SIDE GANGSTER)
Bootleg Rivalry
Delivery: Warehouse 2122 N. Clark St.
7 Moran Men Waited
Al Capone’s men arrived dressed as police
Moran’s men all killed

14. 21st Amendment: repealed 18th (1933)