Was Prohibition Successful in the 1920s - 551 Words

In the late 1910s, when the catastrophic war in Europe eventually ended, the world was still rebuilding itself. New orders and Feminism arose, and among those innovations, the Prohibition in North America was debated most. Some argue that the prohibition is a success because it did half the alcohol consumption and gained status for women. However to me it was unsuccessful, because it made unscrupulous people wealthy, did not decrease alcohol abuse, and made citizens disregard the federal law. First, the prohibition significantly encouraged gansterism in the 1920s, when the mafia raised a considerable amount of money by selling alcohol underground. They even became more wealthy and powerful then the local government and took control of city affairs. Probably the most famous, and infamous mafia was Al Capone, who was a Italian descent grew up in New York City, and later started to smuggling illegal alcohols into Chicago city in the 1920s. He also participated in elections and controlle d government officials by using patronage. In the late 1920s he had raised billions of money, and he was nicknamed â€Å"Chicago’s underground mayor†. Even when he abandoned his career after he was released from the prison in the 1930s, he kept about 8 million of properties still. Hence by enforcing prohibition, the government gave chances for gangsters to develop rapidly and may trigger some chaos as well as corruption. By using patronage, the mafias also gained lots of authorities for dirty workShow MoreRelatedThe Street Empire916 Words   |  4 Pagesnone as thriving as the 1920s era, labeled the â€Å"Roaring Twenties†. The 1920s era saw great political and social change to the United States society. The US economy blossomed, and the nations total wealth more than doubled in the 1920s era. As a result of this social and political change as well as the success of the economy, transformed many Americans into a consumer society. The great economic success duri ng the time period also created an excess of money to spend, which was used and spent aimlesslyRead MoreAmerica in the 1920s762 Words   |  4 PagesWhich were the more typical of 1920s of America: Prohibition and intolerance or the Jazz Age and increasing social freedom? The 1920’s were seen as a prosperous time for America, judging by the increasing economic strength, the development of new industries and new methods of production and, by the time of rebellion and liberation that came with it. The 1920’s are often reffered to as the ‘Roaring Twenties’ or the Jazz Age, a period of great fun and enjoyment. However, not everyone agreed withRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1506 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"By 1929 it was estimated that there were 219,000 speakeasies in the United States, 32,000 of which were in New York City† (Boardman 71). People of the 1920s used Prohibition to get ahead in society by selling alcohol illegally. F. Scott Fitzgerald, wrote, The Great Gatsby, which takes place in Long Island, near New York City, during the 1920s. In the novel, the main character, Jay Gatsby, is a successful man who has participated in shady businesses to get what he wants. In, The Great Gatsby, FitzgeraldR ead MoreProhibition in the Great Gatsby1355 Words   |  6 PagesThe 1920s were greatly influenced by prohibition. The prohibition law restricted the manufacturing, consumption, transportation, and sale of alcohol. The law was put into effect to lower the crime and corruption rates in the United States in the 1920s. It was also said to reduce social problems and lower taxes. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald examines the negative repercussions of prohibition on the economy, characters in the Great Gatsby, and on the different social classes of the 1920sRead MoreAl Capone : The Ruthless Gangster1222 Words   |  5 Pagesof the distribution and consumption of alcohol, the Prohibition Act. Most of Capone’s profits came from his disobedience to the act which was successful due to the few tactics he utilized. Throughout the 1920s, Capone was known for being a successful criminal and almost made Prohibition nonexistent. Capone is credited for most of the illegal distributi on of alcohol by using violence to threaten opposing gangs. Al Capone was the most successful distributor of alcohol due to bribing law enforcementsRead MoreThe Rise and Fall of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920 Essay1558 Words   |  7 Pagesand Fall of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s The second Ku Klux Klan lasted between 1915 to 1944 but predominantly rose and fell during the 1920s. The Ku Klux Klan was a white supremacist group with millions of members who brutally tortured and killed anyone who was not a white American. The Ku Klux Klan were known for their white robes, cone hats, and covered faces that disguised their identities. The second Ku Klux Klan’s most important part of it’s history was it’s dramatic rise and fall. The KuRead MoreEssay on Herbert Hoover1312 Words   |  6 PagesFor nearly 14 years—from Jan. 29, 1920, until Dec. 5, 1933--the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages was illegal in the United States. The 18th, or Prohibition, Amendment to the Constitution was passed by Congress and submitted to the states in 1917. By Jan. 29, 1919, it had been ratified. Enforcement legislation entitled the National Prohibition Act (or more popularly, the Volstead act, after Representative Andrew J. Volst ead of Minnesota) was passed on Oct. 28, 1919, over PresidentRead MoreThe Memorable Periold of the 1920s in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1168 Words   |  5 PagesThe 1920s was a memorable period in history because numerous notable events were occurring. Throughout the 1920s, commonly referred to as the â€Å"Roaring Twenties†, were the Women’s Rights Movement, Prohibition, and The Great War, among other events. Fitzgerald grew up during this era, which he described in his novel The Great Gatsby as a time when much sinfulness and immorality was occurring. Excessive drinking, extravagant parties, organized crime, and gambling were all major social issues throughoutRead MoreProhibition Essay942 Words   |  4 PagesProhibition The years leading into the 1920s and the prohibition movement were marked with saloons, drunkenness, and a society of increasing alcohol consumption. Americas changing social habits brought on the passage of the Eighteenth amendment in 1919, placing a nation-wide ban on intoxicating liquors. This amendment was to prevent the production, sale, and use of alcoholic beverages. As the new law was established, the problem of enforcing Americans to obey the law was a great taskRead MoreEssay on prohibition1665 Words   |  7 Pages Prohibition, which was also known as The Noble Experiment, lasted in America from 1920 until 1933. There are quite a few results of this experiment: innocent people suffered; organized crime grew into an empire; the police, courts, and politicians became increasingly corrupt; disrespect for the law grew; and the per capita consumption of the prohibited substance—alcohol—increased dramatically, year by year. These results increased each of the thirteen years of this Noble Experiment, and they never