PROHIBITION

1.) What is Prohibtion?

Prohibition::

noun:   the period from 1920 to 1933 when the sale of alcoholic beverages was prohibited in the United States by a constitutional amendment^[1]

2.) Reasons for Prohibition

     Prohibition was enforced because it was thought that it would reduce crime, solve social problems, reduce taxes, improve health, and reduce corruption.^[2]They hoped that prohibition would stop alcoholic drinking and drunkenness. The Women's National Committee for Law Enforcement wanted prohibition in order to keep their men at home and stop their spending money on alcohol. ^[3]

3.) Prohibition Effects on Society

     Although Prohibition was a good plan at first, it quickly failed. Organized crime rose extraordinarily. Illegal speakeasies (saloons that sold illegal alcohol) popped up quickly. Most people who enjoyed drinking in the past were more than willing to break the law in order to get a drink. Since alcohol was illegal people took to extremes such as making or purchasing alcohol of a much lower quality but higher alcohol content. Homemade alcohol was known as 'moonshine.' This kind of alcohol was extremely dangerous due to the fact that anyone could try to make it.^[4]

     Bootlegging: noun:   the act of making of transporting alcoholic liquor for sale illegally.

     Bootlegging became extremely popular during Prohibition. Bootleggers would manufacture alchohol and either use it for their own consumption or sell it in speakeasies. They would transport the liquor where no citizens or authority figures would be. ^[5]

  Speakeasy:  noun:   (during prohibition) an illegal barroom.

     Speakeasies were a way that people could obtain alcohol illegally during Prohibition. Speakeasies provided a large profit for those who owned one. Beings alcohol was illegal the owners of speakeasies could charge a higher amout of money. Speakeasies were just one of the ways people obtained illegal alcohol. People would hide alcohol in hip flasks or bottles, large pockets, etc. They did anything they could to transport the illicit alcohol.^[6]

4.) End Result of Prohibition

      Organized crime and smuggling rings rose considerably along with the home-brewing or alcohol.

     ^[7]

5.) Prohibition Cartoons 

5.) Mafia 

the mob started in sicily when the the spanish had control. the mafia offered protection to peasants from spanish soldiers. in the mid 1800s the mob moved to america. the mafia had a strict code of conduct. the mafias main crime in the 20's was alcohol production running of clubs extortion and murder. the mob also perfected the art of drive-bys bombings and bribery.