Prohibition The Roaring Twenties Presentation created by Robert L. Martinez.

ProhibitionProhibition

The Roaring TwentiesThe Roaring Twenties

http://www.reuther.wayne.edu/faces/prohibitionraidsm.jpgPresentation created by Robert L. Martinez

St. Valentine’s Day St. Valentine’s Day MassacreMassacre On February 14, 1929, men posing in On February 14, 1929, men posing in

police uniforms raided the headquarters police uniforms raided the headquarters of Chicago’s Moran crime family. When of Chicago’s Moran crime family. When

the officers ordered the gangsters to the officers ordered the gangsters to raise their hands and line up against the raise their hands and line up against the wall, the gangsters thought nothing of wall, the gangsters thought nothing of

it, just a routine police bust or it, just a routine police bust or shakedown.shakedown.

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As it turns out, these “police officers” As it turns out, these “police officers” were members of Al “Scarface” were members of Al “Scarface” Capone’s rival gang in disguise. Capone’s rival gang in disguise.

Capone’s men whipped out their guns Capone’s men whipped out their guns and blasted away. Seven members of and blasted away. Seven members of

the Moran gang died in what soon the Moran gang died in what soon become known as the become known as the Saint Valentine’s Saint Valentine’s

Day MassacreDay Massacre..

Prohibition – Social Prohibition – Social ExperimentExperiment

The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre was The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre was one of many unexpected one of many unexpected

consequences of what President consequences of what President Herbert Hoover called “an experiment Herbert Hoover called “an experiment

noble in purpose” – noble in purpose” – prohibitionprohibition..

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PresidentHerbert Hoover

Progressive reformers saw passage Progressive reformers saw passage of the of the 1818thth Amendment Amendment, which , which

prohibited the manufacture, sale, prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transport of alcoholic or transport of alcoholic

beverages, as a great victory.beverages, as a great victory. They pointed to evidence that They pointed to evidence that

alcoholism caused crime, violence, alcoholism caused crime, violence, and the breakup of families.and the breakup of families.

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Drys, as backers of Prohibition Drys, as backers of Prohibition were called, believed that stopping were called, believed that stopping people from drinking would result people from drinking would result

in a healthier, happier society.in a healthier, happier society.

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Many traditionalists were Many traditionalists were suspicious of immigrants. They suspicious of immigrants. They associated beer drinking with associated beer drinking with

immigrants of German descent and immigrants of German descent and wine drinking with Italian wine drinking with Italian

immigrants.immigrants. Immigrants viewed prohibition as Immigrants viewed prohibition as

another example of another example of nativistnativist prejudice.prejudice.

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In the beginning, the national In the beginning, the national consumption of alcohol did decline, consumption of alcohol did decline,

from an annual average of 2.6 from an annual average of 2.6 gallons per capita before the war gallons per capita before the war

to less than 1 gallon by the 1930s.to less than 1 gallon by the 1930s. Fewer workers spent their wages Fewer workers spent their wages

at saloons, to the benefit of their at saloons, to the benefit of their families.families.

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Opponents of prohibition, called Opponents of prohibition, called “wets,” were small in number at “wets,” were small in number at first. But as the law went into first. But as the law went into

effect, their numbers grew.effect, their numbers grew. Many modernists attacked Many modernists attacked

prohibition as an attempt by the prohibition as an attempt by the federal government to legislate federal government to legislate

morality.morality.

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Massachusetts Senator David Walsh, Massachusetts Senator David Walsh, rejected traditionalist arguments that rejected traditionalist arguments that drinking was sinful. He reminded drys drinking was sinful. He reminded drys

that the first miracle performed by Jesus that the first miracle performed by Jesus had been to turn water into wine. Were had been to turn water into wine. Were

Jesus to perform this miracle in Jesus to perform this miracle in prohibition-era America, Walsh prohibition-era America, Walsh

observed, “he would be jailed and observed, “he would be jailed and possibly crucified again.”possibly crucified again.”

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In October 1919, Congress passed In October 1919, Congress passed the the Volstead ActVolstead Act to enforce the 18 to enforce the 18thth

Amendment. But the federal Amendment. But the federal government never gave the government never gave the

enforcement agency, called the enforcement agency, called the Prohibition Bureau, sufficient Prohibition Bureau, sufficient

personnel, money, or supplies.personnel, money, or supplies.

Bootlegger bustedby the cops.

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Millions of Americans simply Millions of Americans simply refused to stop drinking. Some refused to stop drinking. Some learned how to brew their own learned how to brew their own ““bathtub ginbathtub gin.” Others bought .” Others bought

““bootlegbootleg” alcohol that was distilled ” alcohol that was distilled illegally or smuggled into the illegally or smuggled into the United States from Canada.United States from Canada.

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As thousands of bars and pubs As thousands of bars and pubs were forced to close, they were were forced to close, they were

replaced by nearly twice as many replaced by nearly twice as many secret drinking clubs, called secret drinking clubs, called

speakeasiesspeakeasies.. The number of speakeasies in New The number of speakeasies in New

York city alone was estimated at York city alone was estimated at 32,000.32,000.

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The growing demand for liquor The growing demand for liquor created a golden opportunity for created a golden opportunity for crooks like Al Capone.crooks like Al Capone.

BootleggingBootlegging is the production, is the production, transport, and sale of illegal transport, and sale of illegal alcohol, was a multibillion dollar alcohol, was a multibillion dollar business by the mid-1920s.business by the mid-1920s.

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Chicago bootlegger Chicago bootlegger Al CaponeAl Capone exhibited his wealth by driving exhibited his wealth by driving

around in a $30,000 Cadillac around in a $30,000 Cadillac while flashing an 11 ½ carat while flashing an 11 ½ carat

diamond ring.diamond ring.

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““When I sell liquor, it’s called When I sell liquor, it’s called bootlegging,” “When my bootlegging,” “When my

patrons serve it on Lake Shore patrons serve it on Lake Shore Drive, it’s called hospitalityDrive, it’s called hospitality.”.”

- - Chicago gangster Al CaponeChicago gangster Al Caponehttp://www.aboveallart.com/images/AL%20CAPONE%2016%20X%2016.jpg.thumb_525x514.jpg

To keep his profits flowing without To keep his profits flowing without government interference, Capone government interference, Capone

bribed bribed politicians, judges, and politicians, judges, and police officers.police officers.

He also eliminated rival He also eliminated rival bootleggers. His thousand-member bootleggers. His thousand-member gang was blamed for hundreds of gang was blamed for hundreds of

murders.murders.

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End of CaponeEnd of Capone Capone finally went to jail, not Capone finally went to jail, not

for bootlegging or murder, but for bootlegging or murder, but for for tax evasiontax evasion..

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As lawlessness, violence, and As lawlessness, violence, and corruption increased, support for corruption increased, support for prohibition dwindled. By the late prohibition dwindled. By the late 1920s, many Americans believed 1920s, many Americans believed that prohibition had caused more that prohibition had caused more

harm than good.harm than good. In 1933, the states ratified the In 1933, the states ratified the 2121stst

AmendmentAmendment, which repealed , which repealed prohibition.prohibition.