The Cause Of Prohibition

The prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s, also known as the Volstead Act, led to many issues in big cities and the government through out United States. At first glance the Volstead Act seemed to work well, but later it resulted in organized crime and corruption. The 18th Amendment to the constitution was ratified in January 1919 and later put into effect a year later in January 1920. This amendment made the manufacture, sale and transportation of liquor illegal.
Many may wonder how the push for the ratification even began. There were various individuals with personal reasons as well as organizations that played a role in the push of the amendment, organizations like the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and Progressive reformers. A significant

number of women supported the new law and pushed the ratification. “Women were strongly behind the temperance movement, for alcohol was seen as a destroyer of families and marriages.” (Kelly, archive.gov). This was because men spent their money on alcohol and most of their time at the saloon drinking instead of providing financially for their children or spending time at home with their family. On the other hand, progressives had another reason for the reform; they were focused on improving society in a more general sense. However both the temperance movement and progressives’ thought it was necessary for government to intervene. “Temperance societies and Progressives alike saw the need for governmental control and involvement in citizens’ lives.” (Kelly, archive.gov). Both these groups worked to push the ratification to better the society as whole.
At first the Volstead Act seemed to work, the consumption of liquor and arrests for intoxication decreased significantly. This was a result of the prices of liquor rising higher than the average worker could even afford. “Alcohol consumption dropped by 30 percent and the United States Brewers’ Association admitted that the consumption of hard liquor was off 50 percent during prohibition.” (Kelly, archive.gov). Although consumption dropped, there was still of course people who rebelled against the law, which proved the law to be difficult to regulate and enforce. “The National government did not have the means or desire to try to enforce every border, lake, river and speakeasy in America.” (Kelly, archive.gov). Crime rates in big cities like Chicago and New York went up because of organized crime in alcohol production. The demand for liquor during the “dry” spell started a new opportunity for gangsters like the infamous Al Capone to develop into a market.
Al Capone and other gangsters were ready for the prohibition to be taken advantage of by having connections with political figures that tended to be gamblers. “Through the criminal experience gained and the political connections established in gambling and prostitution rackets in the early 1900s, gangsters had become well prepared for the exploitation of prohibition.” (Kelly, archive.gov). Because of their preparedness, this escalated crime and the market for the illegal distribution of alcohol. Capone organized bootlegging of liquor by importing it from other locations and established speakeasies to distribute it. Bootlegging was the illegal production and distribution of alcohol and speakeasies allowed people to secretly meet, and consume liquor in underground or hidden nightclubs. The nightclubs would usually require a special knock or password for entry. “In fact by 1925 in New York City alone there were anywhere from 30,000 to 100,000 speakeasy clubs.” (Hales, Kazmer, umich.edu). Since Capone was running illegal activities, he would bribe politicians and the police so that he would not get caught or punished for what he was doing.
There were many factors that played a role in the increase of organized crime such as the rise of the population, and needs for jobs that made easy money.

Chicago had a growing number of immigrants and the rising population had a major impact on the corruption occurring. .“The exponential growth of the city’s population that occurred during this time period weakened the ability of Chicago’s governmental system to operate effectively.” (Hales, Kazmer, umich.edu). The increase of the population did not result in the increase of police officers and law enforcement agencies were viewed as incompetent. During the time of prohibition, criminal activity or in other words, “hustling” was on the rise. This was seen as a new occupation for lower class individuals who needed easy money. Many unskilled workers did not get paid enough in order to live comfortably or provide for their families and they had to make ends meet which is why they got into illegal activities like bootlegging. Those who didn’t have a well paying job and were desperate admired gangsters like Al Capone because they saw the money they had and the power they seemed to receive from everyone including law enforcement and even politicians. “The proliferation of organized crime was aided also by the fact that Chicago was a city where politicians and police were crooked, and eager to accept bribes.” (Hales, Kazmer, umich.edu). The bribes were what made police officers “look the other way” when seeing people intoxicated or entering into speakeasies and even when seeing gangsters commit certain acts. Bribery, exploitation and the inadequate, corrupt government system is what made organized crime strive in big cities and around the

U.S.
This created corruption in politics because it exploited how the society was ran on greed. Much like the past, today in modern society alcohol and drugs still cause issues in politics and controversy around the world.