Prohibition 1920-1933 Flashcards
What is prohibition? (simple)
The outlawing of alcohol
Outline stage 1 of prohibition, including name & its arguments
The Temperance Movement
- temperance = not drinking alcohol
- ‘Dries’ - Proponents (person who advocates) of temperance.
- Popular and strong in the rural midwest (Bible Belt)
Arguments:
- Caused health problems
- Murder, cholera, epilepsy, fever
- Saloons are cursed by God
- 3/4 pauperism
- 1/2 of all insanity cases
- Deadly for children even in small doses
- Holding back the economy
Outline stage two of prohibition
1917 Prohibition divided US politics
- War w/ Germany helped doom German brewers.
- Alcohol is labelled as the cause of German aggression
- Refusing alcohol was seen as patriotic
When was prohibition put in place and through what?
18th Amendment
Volstead Act
16 January 1920 (came into effect a year after)
When did prohibition finish?
5th December 1933 (26th Amendment)
Stats of the deaths related to alcohol poisoning from 1920 to 1930
1920 - 98 deaths
1930 - 760 deaths
Where did illegal alcohol come from?
Either Canada or the Caribbean
What were bootleggers?
Smugglers of the illegal alcohol
Why was there the smuggling of illegal alcohol?
A lot of money was to be made, so many took the risk of imprisonment
Where was most illegal liquor made?
Illegal stills
Bathtub gin and Moonshine
How many illegal stills were seized in 1930?
282,122 (seized by gov agents)
How many FBI agents were employed as prohibition enforcement?
1500-2300 agents
What were the characteristics/treatment of the FBI agents?
- Badly paid
- Took Bribes
- Becoming very wealthy
How many gang land murders in Chicago where there in 1926-1927 and why is it important?
130 murders, it’s important because it had no convictions, this is a demonstration of how the police and FBI turned a blind eye.
What was the worst legacy of prohibition?
The level of corruption it brought into the US
How many agents would be sacked for corruption?
1 in 12
Why did many agents take bribes?
Many didn’t have much of a choice, either take the briber or be murdered by a gang.
How much money a year was going to gang members?
2 Billion
What did rival gangs fight over?
Territory, alcohol and speakeasies
The Great Depression helped to bring an end to… what?
Prohibition
Legalising alcohol could:
Create jobs
Bring prosperity
Generate taxes
Which Democratic candidate stood for ending prohibition?
Franklin D.Roosevelt 1932
How did Al Capone become extremely rich and powerful from low origins
The selling of illegal alcohol and using violence.
How much did Al Capone spend to get who as elected as what?
Spent $250,000 to get Big Bill Thompson elected as the Chicago mayor
What positives did Al Capone bring to Chicago?
Brought wealth and excitement.
Combined violence w/ charity
Seen as Robin Hood by some as he gave generously to the community
What was a shock for the public that Al Capone was behind?
St Valentine’s Day Massacre 1929 created demands from the public for him to be stopped
When and where was Al Capone born?
1899 in New York (parents from south Italy)
Outline Al Capones Career
- Joined Five Points Gang run by ‘Terrible Johnny’ Torrio.
- 1925 - Torrio was badly injured by ‘Bugs’ Moran and retired. Handingo ver the Five Points Gang to Capone.
- Capone brought other gangs under his control and gradually gained political control of Chicago.
- He was behind the St Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929 when rivel gangs threatened his operations.
- Escaped jail until 1931 when he was sentenced to 11 years for not paying his income tax/
- Released 1939, was never really able to recover from his time in the infamous Alcatraz prison.
- Died 25 Jan 1947 from natural causes
