Prohibition The Noble Experiment Prohibition l Thought l
Prohibition The Noble Experiment
Prohibition l Thought l Was of by the Progressives a plan to stop people from drinking alcoholic beverages
th 18 l Added l Made Amendment to the Constitution in 1919 the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages illegal
Goals of Prohibition l Reduce Crime l Reduce Poverty l Lower Death Rates l Improve the Quality of Life
Prohibition “The Noble Experiment” Prohibition was meant to reduce crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons and poor houses, and improve health and hygiene in America.
Carrie Nation l Was a crusader for prohibition l Used a hatchet to split wooden kegs and smash bottles of alcoholic beverages
Carrie Nation
Prohibition Fails Instead prohibition lead to more crime and corruption and even more social problems.
Bootleggers l Smuggled liquor from overseas and Canada, stole it from government warehouses, or made their own l Illegal speak-easies replaced saloons during prohibition
Bootleggers Running from the Law
Crash While a Bootlegger was Running from Revenuers
Speak Easies
Organized Crime l Organized gangs controlled most of the bootlegging industry. l Gangs bribed federal agents and city officials leading to corruption among the police. l Rival gangs would fight over money and this led to over 400 gang related murders in Chicago alone.
Gangsters l Al Capone l Bugs Moran
Al Capone
Why Did Prohibition Fail? l Prohibition failed because the policy was pretty much unenforceable l Only 5% of smuggled liquor was actually stopped from coming into the country l Gangs overpowered or bribed authority figures
Problems Caused by Prohibition • Instead of lowering the crime rate prohibition actually lead to an increase in crime. • Large amounts of money could be made from illegal bootlegging.
The End of Prohibition The 21 st Amendment ended prohibition in 1933
Results of Prohibition l Americans began to drink more hard liquor l Americans drank more potent drinks and became more drunk by drinking less l Illegally made products had no standards so people began to die from poisoned liquor.
Results of Prohibition l Organized crime grew into an empire l Disrespect for the law grew l Consumption dramatically of alcohol increased
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