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Prohibition starts
The prohibition was a nationwide constitutional ban on the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcohol. This was the public morals and heath. The IRS and Justice department initially started the prohibition, and then the Federal and local government enforced it. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was a large strength locally. -
Organized Crime Description
Gangs mostly consisted of Italian, Jewish, Irish, and Polish people. They worked for shady businessmen in mobs and gangs. One of the most famous mobsters would be Al (Scarface) Capone. Using his prior experience as a bookkeeper, he ran numbers and controlled gangs. Averaging at about $60 million annual in alcohol, he became very successful. -
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Prohibition
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Al Capone Moves
After staying in Chicago, Al Capone moved base to Cicero -
Speakeasies
Cleveland had an estimated 3,000 illegal speakeasies, compared to the 1,200 legal bars it had in 1919. Speakeasies were illegal liquor stores or nightclubs. -
Bootlegging
Gangster Al Capone becomes a large roll in bootlegging alcohol. -
Organized Crimes
Al Capone was blamed for the death of Billy Mcswiggin. The Purple Gang goes to trail for bootlegging and Hijacking.
(Picture of Purple Gang) -
Speakeasies increase drastically
By this time the 3,000 speakeasies had increased to 30,000 -
Cartoon
This political cartoon shows Al Smith's disapproval towards the prohibition. He was a democratic presidential candidate. This was posted in the Putnam County Courier -
Stock Market Crash
Stock Market crashes, the start of the depression. Gang Violence rises in almost every United State's city. -
St Valentines Day Massacre
Al Capone ordered an assassination against 7 of his Rivals. His men dressed as police and shot his enemies. -
Cirrhosis
Cirrhos is a late stage of scarring in the liver. A common way to get this was chronic alcoholism. Deaths from this disease dropped from 29.5 per 1,000 people down to 10.7 per 1,000. -
Prohibition Ends
Franklin Roosevelt legalizes beer again
(Picture of Roosevelt
