Prohibition

Created by

Isabel Norris

Cards (8)

Prohibition - How + Why it was introduced
1920 - 1933
Prohibition Goal - reduce alcohol consumption and its associated social issues
Religious influence - views alcohol as sinful and damaging to Christian life
Sees alcohol as moral evil, particularly in urban areas where drinking was more present
Economic + political factors - industrialised supported Prohibition as they believed it would increase worker productivity
Temperance movement believed alcohol was responsible for domestic violence, poverty, crime, and decreased work productivity
Volstead act - prohibited manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol
Prohibition - Reality + Failure
Increase in organised crime
Bootleggers - illegal production, distribution and sale of alcohol ( Al Capone dominated illegal trade )
Violence + Corruption - Turf Wars (St Valentines Day Massacre)
Corrupt law enforcement and politicians were bribed, often due to low wages
Prohibition - Reality + Failure
Smuggling - Boarders (Canada + Mexico) made it easy for criminals to smuggle alcohol into America
Lack of Public Support - Significant portion of Americans prepared to break the Law + consumed alcohol illegally
Ineffective Enforcement - government struggled to finance enforcement as the lacked resources (not enough agents)
Prohibition - Reality + Failure
Loss of Tax revenue - Alcohol originally generated substantial tax revenues
Unemployment - workers in breweries, bars and distilleries became unemployed
Reasons Why Al Capone evaded capture
People were too afraid to report his crimes
He controlled many gangs
He intimidated and bribed law enforcement
Al Capone
Earned 60 million from bootlegging
Employed 700 men
1930 - public enemy number 1
1931 - arrested for tax evasion
St Valentines Day Massacre
14th February 1929
Bugs Moran vs Al Capone - Turf war
Al Capone ordered his men to take down Bugs Moran's gang
7 men from Moran's gang were shot dead
2 men from Al Capones side were disguised as policemen