Prohibition and the Mafia

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The prohibition caused much controversy in the 1920’s. The 18th amendment was passed on Jan 16, 1920, it said in Title II, Section 3 the National Prohibition Act states that "No person shall on or after the date when the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States goes into effect, manufacture, sell, barter, transport, import, export, deliver, furnish or possess any intoxicating liquor except as authorized in this act." (United States constitution). The Prohibition opened up many big business opportunities in the illegal marketing of alcohol. The people who took advantage of this opportunity were known as “Bootleggers”. With the enactment of this law organized crime was established, allowing men such as Al Capone to capitalize and make millions. Him and many others took a stand against the government and at the same time they profited extremely well off of it Temperance movement advocators brought on the creation of the “Volstead Act” which was later changed to the 18th amendment and prohibitionist who believed that alcohol consumption is both unmoral and unethical. With this law came the creation of speakeasies and underground bars. These were places illegally set up witch sold alcohol. The thing about the 18th amendment was that it only banned the distributing and sale of it alcohol not the consumption. The prohibition was both enforceable and unpopular. (Capone: the man and his era). The law enforcement agencies in every state were unable to control the mass amounts of illegal acts involving alcohol. When it came to engaging in this illegal part of society there was no diversity. Everyone from the president to politicians to policemen looked the other way when they came across the selling of alcohol. With there ... ... middle of paper ... ...for most people during the prohibition. This being illegal causes much hate against the government. It was not only the gangsters taking a stand for what the believe in was all of America. Even though the prohibition ended and the 18th amendment had failed the mafia was there to stay and increased in size over the next 60 years. The mafia started in 1931. On February 20, 1933 the 21st amendment was enacted. It repealed the 18th amendment and ended the prohibition. Reasons for this was the 18th amendment was extremely difficult to control, and enforceable. It had done the opposite of what it was established for. Instead of the alcohol business decreasing it increased tremendously. Though there were many police raids it did not even make an indent in the illegal field. It was said that there was somewhere around 100,000 speakeasies in New York City alone.(Nishi)

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