Prohibition The Roaring 20s Why Causes Causes For

Prohibition The Roaring 20’s

Why? Causes? �Causes For Prohibition • Religious Groups • Government’s duty to protect individuals health • Led to crime, abuse, and accidents

18 th Amendment Passed � Made the manufacturing, sale, and transportation of alcohol illegal.

Prohibition Bureau and the Volstead Act �Volstead Act of 1919 • Prohibition Bureau �Good idea, poor planning � 18, 700 miles of Coast �Couldn’t pay officers �Officers were bribed higher wages �Only 1, 500 officers

Organized Crime + Bootlegging

Speakeasies � Speakeasies were underground (sometimes literally) bars/saloons/nightclubs which served illegal hooch (alcohol).

How did they get it � There is a catch • Alcohol was still allowed for Religious and Medicinal Purposes. People brewed their own alcohol in their bathrooms sinks and tubs � Smugglers (bootleggers) would smuggle liquor from Canda, Cuba, and the West Indies. �

Importance of the Speakeasies and Bootlegging � Many great influential artists and politicians would have never gotten their starts had it not been for performing at, or opening speakeasies including: Frank Sinatra Joseph Kennedy (JFK’s Father) Louis Armstrong

Organized Crime � With the popularity of alcohol in high demand, and little demand those who were able to bootleg gained power.

Pro’s and Con’s to Prohibition