Prohibition & Crime
Essential Questionso Is the government's passage of the 18th Amendment an over-reaction to the problem of alcohol?
o How do the actions of the gangsters/bootleggers support the position that the government and temperance leaders had gone too far? |
Key Pointso The effectiveness (or lack of) of the 18th Amendment.
o How the government dealt with violations of the Volstead Act. o The 1920's reputation for gangsters and crime and whether or not it's deserved. |
Vocabulary
Speakeasy: an establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages during Prohibition
Bootlegger: someone who distributes or sells illicitly
Bootlegger: someone who distributes or sells illicitly
Gangsters and CrimeThe 1920's was a time that allowed gangsters and their crime to flourish across the nation. Criminals like Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde, and Baby Face Nelson, all famous gangsters in American history, made their livings by robbing banks, killing innocent civilians, and running from the FBI. Al Capone, leader of the Chicago Outfit, was dedicated to smuggling, bootlegging, and running prostitution rigs. Much of what Capone did greatly influenced the 20's, defining what it meant to be a true gangster. Although the crimes he committed were looked upon as illegal by many, he retained his popularity with the public by making various charitable endeavors with the money he earned through his activities, often being referred to as the "modern-day Robin Hood". However, Al Capone's popularity declined after his alleged involvement in the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre, in which seven of his rival gang members were executed. Capone was sentenced to jail in 1931 for evading taxes, but was released on parole in 1939. He died eight years later from cardiac arrest. Bonnie and Clyde, well known outlaws and robbers during the Great Depression, also played their roles in defining small gang organizations in the 1920's. Preforming a dozen or so major bank robberies, much of their criminal career revolved around robbing minor establishments, like small stores or gas stations. The gang had killed several civilians during their runs, but were ultimately ambushed in Louisiana and were killed by local officers. Finally, Baby Face Nelson's many robberies and murders defined the darker side to being a gangster, much unlike Capone had done. Nelson, partnered with John Dillinger, became public enemy number one in America during the time of his activities. Killing countless civilians, the small, youthful criminal attracted the attention of the FBI, which led to his death during the shootout known as the Battle of Barrington.
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ProhibitionRatified as the 18th Amendment in 1919, prohibition made the manufacturing, sale, transportation, or consumption of alcohol illegal in the nation. Supported by the Women's Christian Temperance Union, the nation's leaders thought that by banning alcohol they could lower crime rates throughout America. This, however, proved to do the opposite of what was intended. With the prohibition of alcohol came bootleggers and the establishments of secret speakeasies. Crime rates rose to extreme heights, leading to the rise of syndicates and crime organizations. There were, however, two major flaws with the 18th Amendment that criminals took advantage of to cover their trails. These two major flaws included not defining what "intoxicating liquors" were or providing penalties for those who broke the law. Later in 1919, these problems were addressed by the Volstead Act, defining an "intoxicating liquor as any beverage with more than 0.5% alcohol by volume. Most large cities were uninterested in upholding the law, leaving it to the understaffed federal services to go after bootleggers and other participants. The passing of this bill was unanticipated, turning a legitimate business into something controlled by gangs to earn revenue. While the amendment made possessing alcohol illegal, it was still easily obtained. Many noncriminal Americans still kept private bars full of drinks for when guests came over. Large quantities of alcohol were smuggled over from Canada. Ships that traveled 3 miles off the coast of America were exempt from prohibition and therefore could smuggle alcohol easily into American ports. During the Great Depression, prohibition became increasingly unpopular. Pauline Sabin, along with her republican supports, pushed for the repeal of the 18th Amendment, eventually leading to the 21st Amendment in 1933. The 21st Amendment made it so states controlled alcohol laws, not the federal government.
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the Volstead ActOn October 28, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson vetoed the Volstead Act, due to technical reasons revolving around wartime prohibition. On the same day, it was overridden by the House of Representatives and the Senate one day later. The Volstead Act covered the major flaws that were left unmentioned in the 18th Amendment, those being the failure to define an "intoxicating liquor" and outlining punishment for offenders. Along with these covering the failures, the Volstead Act also regulated manufacturing, sale, and transportation of alcohol for scientific research, but not consumption. While the act preformed what it was intended to do, it was declared unconstitutional in 1933, along with the 18th Amendment, with the passing of the 21st Amendment.
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1920's: Decade of Purity or crime?The 1920's were a time of intended purification after a time of political, social, and economic corruption. In an attempt to make America a better place like it once was in its Victorian era, the 18th Amendment was passed to lower crime rates through making alcohol illegal completely illegal. While the intent was good, this amendment made the alcohol production business illegal as well, putting many Americans out of work and opening up the franchise to those unafraid of breaking federal laws. As to be expected, criminals took over the business, causing syndicates and organizations to sprout up across the nation. Along with the syndicates, normal Americans were also considered "criminals" for merely enjoying a drink within their own home with guests. Overall, the over-reaction of the government made the nation into a nation full of hypocrites, supported by rise of big, criminal organization businesses, which caused more trouble for the government than anticipated.
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Thinking Like a Historian
During the 1920's, America was voted to be dry, meaning that the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of alcohol was made illegal. This affected more Americans than the government had originally realized. The intent was to keep alcoholic troublemakers from making life rough for those around them. Little did they know, they would ruin the alcohol industry for the hardworking Americans that ran the business and made criminals out of those who simply wanted to enjoy a drink within their own home. Friends and families could no longer go out for drinks on the weekend and instead were forced to hide in their basements to have a good time. On the other hand, criminal organizations, such as the Chicago Outfit, benefited from this change. They now would make money by producing and selling the thing that all Americans had grown accustomed to having. The government had created more trouble for America than they had originally intended to, and now were forced to clean up their mess before America became something worse than it already was.
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The Women's Christian Temperance Union had pushed so hard for prohibition in an attempt to clean up American crime. As women, it's understandable for them to want alcohol banned. Intoxicated men posed a threat to them after dark, making going out difficult in fear of rape or theft. Also, being a Christian society, they probably found the consumption of alcohol to be a sin. It caused disorderly behavior for anyone who indulged in the activity and made men and women alike look foolish. The U.S. government also had their own intentions for the passing of the 18th Amendment. After a decade of corruption among the political social, and economic aspects of the nation, the leading officials of the nation looked to return America to its rightful spot as one of the best nations in the world to live in. America, once a nation that promised equality among men and a democracy, had become so rigged that voting had proven to be futile for the American people. Through prohibition, the government hoped to help America, but instead made it worse off.
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APParts: Analyzing the Volstead ACt
Author
The Volstead was drafted by Wayne Wheeler, to which he named the bill after Andrew Volstead, chairman and head legislator of the Anti-Saloon League.
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Place and Time
The bill was brought up to Congress on October 28, 1919 during the early stages of Roaring 20's. At this time, prohibition had be passed, but so few states enforced it due to its lacking of description of "intoxicating liquor" and punishment.
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Audience
The act was addressed to those who found it pointless to enforce or follow the law, strictly because it was lacking. This act covered up all holes in the amendment and made it worthwhile to follow for awhile.
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Prior Knowledge
With the passing of the 18th Amendment, many Americans were either financially impacted for the worse or just plain unhappy about it. Many Americans refused to follow the law and therefore made prohibition useless to the American society.
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Reason
The reason for the creation of the Volstead Act was to attempt to cover the things that the 18th Amendment missed and answer the questions that followed. The act also stated punishments for those who went against the act and broke the law.
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Main Idea
The main idea of the act was to turn perpetrators away from breaking the law by providing acceptable terms and punishments to the 18th Amendment. These additions were hoped to help stop criminals who had already broken the law, but, to no avail, helped little.
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Al Capone
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Bonnie and Clyde
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Baby Face Nelson
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