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From Prohibition to the Mob

From Prohibition to the Mob. Journal #98. What were some of the reasons people believed Prohibition would be a success? What were some of the reasons it ended up failing?. Why Prohibition.

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From Prohibition to the Mob

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  1. From Prohibition to the Mob

  2. Journal #98 • What were some of the reasons people believed Prohibition would be a success? What were some of the reasons it ended up failing?

  3. Why Prohibition • Movement gained strength back in 1893 with the Anti-Saloon League and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. • Also driven by belief that certain immigrants from Europe were spreading their culture of ‘drink.’

  4. Success of the Booze Business • Brewing became very profitable. • About 1 saloon for every 150 people. • Goal was to stop people from drinking then the Church and community orgs. would persuade people to give up drinking w/o interference.

  5. The 18th Amendment • Many states had prohibition laws before it was a federal law. • Called the Volstead Act. • Vetoes by Woodrow Wilson. • Passed 1/16/1920. • Prohibited the manufacture, sale or transportation of alcoholic beverages.

  6. Saloons appeared to be closed, but really went ‘underground.’ in basements, attics, upper floors, and disguised as other businesses, such as cafes, soda shops, and entertainment venues Called speakeasies because of the need to whisper or “speak easy,” when talking about them Speakeasies

  7. New ways to serve alcohol • Introduction of mixing alcohol with soda, juice and sugar water – called cocktails. • Would drink the drinks from a teacup in case of a raid. • Flask became a fashion accessory.

  8. The Bootleggers • Smuggled booze in from Canada or raided government warehouses. • Sometimes mixed it with embalming fluid when supply was low. • Some of the most famous sellers of illegal alcohol: Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, & Purple gang of Detroit.

  9. Al Capone • Climbed his way to the top of Chicago’s organized crime. • Eliminated his competition… • Bribed the mayor of Chicago, police, etc

  10. Lucky Luicano • Sold liquor to NYC speakeasies • Was able to dock his supply ships in New York Harbor. • Reorganized the mob – turned it into a smoothly run national crime syndicate focused on the bottom line

  11. The Purple Gang • Smuggled through the Detroit River & Lake Erie (summer and winter). • Kept Al Capone out of East Michigan. • Viewed as ‘off color’ and ‘purple, like rotten meat.’

  12. Ways to smuggle • False floorboards in automobiles • second gas tanks • hidden compartments • even false bottomed shopping baskets and suitcases

  13. More ways to smuggle • in crates labeled with other products, • in coconut shells • garden hoses • hollowed out canes • false books

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