Mob Involvement with Prohibition
In 1917 Congress passed the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution which prohibited the export, import, manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States. This new law is believed to have had the greatest effect on the twenties creating a feeling of rebellion and wild behavior. Many people thought this law violated there right to live by their own standards and have a good time. The Volstead Act passed by Congress set up penalties to all violators of the Eighteenth Amendment. Prohibition is one of the best things ever done by the United States Government. It single-handedly created new business opportunities and brought people together like never before. It had also created a booming new industry, and created a new way of life for many people. Unfortunately, none of these things were good things. The new business opportunities were all in the organized crime realm. With the banning of alcohol they saw an incredible boom in business. No longer did they have to rely on robbery, brothels and cons. There was a whole new business out there and it was making millions. Prohibition also united the American people more than anything since the World War.
The reason the mob did this is because they wanted to control all the alcohol going into a specific city. Speakeasies and gangs all died down. Even the police, yeah sure they will serve and protect, unless they find a better deal. As you can imagine this brought forth some fairly large confrontations between rival gangs. Everyone, from the poor to the rich, united to break the law. He was part of one of the most notorious gang massacres of this time. On February 14, Valentine's Day, Four members of Al Capone's gang Trapped seven members of their rival gang, headed by "Bugs" Moran, and brutally shot them in cold blood. But, prohibition contributed to an increased sense of community and neighborly love. With prohibition the big companies were put out and the small businesses had to meet the demand. If the little guy didn't want to sell they had some trouble coming for them. Rarely do the rich and the poor agree on anything. Finally after a decade of prohibition Alcohol was finally made legal again by the Twenty first Amendment on December 1933. I suppose you could venture to say prohibition was like a modern time welfare. The police were letting alcohol be made and sold right under their noses. They can even get drunk with the local police officer.
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