Prohibition+and+Crime

= __Prohibition and Crime in the 1920's__ =

**Introduction:**



=
For society in the early 1900’s it was common to see people drinking either at a bar or casually at dinners. It wasn’t seen down upon from most of society. When people started to see the negative effects people started to question if alcohol was actually worth it. They thought that murder and crime were caused by alcohol. They had to make a decision as a country to decide what would help America in safest way. America decided to make a serious reform and the country went into a state of prohibition. This meant that the manufacturing, sale, and transportation of alcohol would be illegal. America was now a dry country. ======

=
**Fun Fact:** President Woodrow Wilson actually vetoed the "Volstead Act" (a popular name for the prohibition), but it was still passed through congress over Woodrow's will. ======

=
 Although alcohol was illegal, it was made in the woods and homes of America to quench the thirst of those unwilling to give up the potent liquid. Homemade alcohol was referred as moonshine or bathtub gin depending on what part of the country you were in. Moonshine was distilled in the back country, much like the video above. Although contradictory to its name, bathtub gin is any type of alcohol made in homemade or amateur conditions. Alcohol was also imported into America from Canada, as it was not illegal there and border security was weak. ======

=
 ======

media type="youtube" key="szntim2j9Rg" width="425" height="350" align="center"

=
 Contradictory to the reason in which prohibition was started, crime and violence rates increased. The amendment did result in considerably less people drinking alcohol, but the production and distribution of alcohol was in the hands of criminals. Once prohibition was put in place, gangs such as the Mafia took advantage of the demand for alcohol and began large operations to produce, deliver, and serve alcohol. With the alcohol market in the hands of gangs, violence and crime ensued. Violence and crime between rival gangs, law enforcement, and the general public began to consume large cities and it was soon decided that prohibition was doing more harm then good. Some of the most famous mobsters such as Al Capone, rose to fame and power through bootlegging. ======

media type="youtube" key="Q_VVGafuMwk" width="425" height="350" align="center"

.

=
Moonshine was the drink of prohibition. Moonshine is a liquor made in an licenced still, during prohibition alcohol was illegal making all liquors made in the U.S., moonshine. Moonshine was distilled in the backwoods of America, by men willing to take the risk for big reward. ======

Not all alcohol was made in the U.S., a large amount was smuggled in to the country from America's Northern border, Canada.

==== "When Prohibition was introduced, I hoped that it would be widely supported by public opinion and the day would soon come when the evil effects of alcohol would be recognized. I have slowly and reluctantly come to believe that this has not been the result. Instead, drinking has generally increased; the speakeasy has replaced the saloon; a vast army of lawbreakers has appeared; many of our best citizens have openly ignored Prohibition; respect for the law has been greatly lessened; and crime has increased to a level never seen before.” ====

=
 The main purpose of prohibition was to eliminate crime and get rid of drunks, but in reality it caused a period of time with the highest crime rate and people like Al Capone, to get rich off of selling alcohol illegally. In 1933 Franklin Roosevelt repealed the 18th amendment by mandating the 21st amendment. Since then as long as you are twenty one it has been legal to drink in America. It was said that the main reason why it got repealed was because people didn't respect the law. Things like under the counter giving of alcohol and underground saloons were just a slap in the face to the 18th amendment. Another major reason why the law amendment was repealed because at the time the country was going through a rough patch and the depression was at full force. The government gained a lot of money from all the taxes it got from the alcohol and this was a major part of the United States getting out of a time that was rough on everyone. =====

=
Once the 18th amendment was appealed, the Busch Anheuser company sent a team of Clydesdales and a wagon to the white house to deliver a case of beer.