Organized Crime as the Main Factor that Led to Failure of Prohibition

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Organized Crime as the Main Factor that Led to Failure of Prohibition In January 1919 the 18th Amendment outlawed the manufacture, transportation and sale of liquor, backed up by the Volstead Act which classify liquor as any drink which contained 0.5% alcohol or more. Different groups backed this new law but it was also opposed by many. Prohibition, never succeeded. There were various reasons why the enforcing of Prohibition failed. Both presidential candidates in 1932 were 'wet' so on 5th December 1933 Prohibition was finally abolished by the 21st Amendment - 14 years after it had been introduced. But was organised crime and the gangsters the only reason why Prohibition failed? I will give a talk about how organised crime contributed to the failure of prohibition. The 18th Amendment had banned the sale, transportation and manufacture of alcohol in America. But it was clear to some, that millions neither wanted this law nor would respect it,“ rich and immigrant working class, regarded Prohibition as an intolerable infringement of personal liberty and simply defied it.” There was obviously a huge market for what in the 1920's was an illegal commodity. It was the gangsters who dominated various cities who provided this commodity. “With no legitimate source of liquor left, clubs, speakeasies and private dealers were compelled to turn to the underworld bosses, became a ready prey.” T The groups that favoured Prohibition were not a reason for Prohibition failing, but the problem was that over 75% of America was urban and there were also comparatively few rich businessmen. Prohibition never had any real support from urban states, ... ... middle of paper ... ...peakeasy owners and many members of the police force, government and the courts - hindering the law enforcement greatly. The problem was the great power that the gangsters had. Overall, I think that the gangsters were the main reason why Prohibition failed, followed closely by the lack of public support. My reasoning behind this opinion is that the demand by the public for alcohol could not have been met without the powerful gangsters and once they had started to meet this demand they could not be stopped as the gangsters controlled and influenced many people who should have had influence over the gangsters and stopped them providing alcohol to. Bibliography THE ERA OF EXCESS PROHIBITION BY ANDREW SINCLAIR. AMERICA BY TINDALL AND SHI. THE LIMITS OF LIBERTY AMERICAN HISTORY WRITEN BY MALDYWN JONES.

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