18th Amendment Essay

On January 16, 1920, the 18th Amendment was passed, setting off a rampage of angry Americans. Due to the Prohibition Act being passed, organized crime and the provision of sales of alcohol became more prevalent than before. The mob started making it’s mark soon after the act passed because no one wanted to listen to the authorities. So, the Mafia decided to start selling the illegal commodity. Throughout the essay we will cover how Prohibition came into action, how the gangsters provided the substance and where they did it without being caught, and finally organized crime and some of the big Mafia bosses. The 18th Amendment being passed because a huge uproar in the United States. The 18th Amendment illegalized the production, transport, and sale of all alcohol although, the consumption of alcohol was never illegal. Prohibition was supposed to be lower crime and corruption, as well as, improve health and hygiene in the U.S. During the early 1900s, there was a social trend building in the public leading toward the prohibition of alcohol. This movement was called the Temperance movement. The Temperance movement was an organized effort to encourage the moderation of abstinence. The movement was started mainly by women with children, who had been affected by unbridled usage of alcohol by their husbands. The abstaining of alcohol led to the distribution of the illegal substance. Knowing the 18th Amendment had just been passed, the mob clearly knew what they needed to do in order to gain more power within the cities. They wanted to provide the alcohol and places to drink it. They knew the demand for alcohol was overwhelming. The places the public would go to drink alcohol and have a good time were called speakeasies. Speakeasies were hidden parts of an establishment that were used to …show more content…
When election time in the city came again, he armed his thugs and got them out to the election booths to ensure that his politicians were in office once again. Organized crime was happening in almost every major city in the United States. Meyer Lansky headed one of the most violent gangs during the Prohibition era with his partner “Bugsy” Siegel. Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel was another huge mobster. Bugsy was the preferred hitman for a clean shot. He was never charged for any serious crimes throughout his mafia career. He primarily stayed on the west coast and had ties with Charles “Lucky” Luciano. Lucky Luciano was the richest man gangster in the world at the time, but then got arrested for the largest prostitution ring ever in …show more content…
They ran the major cities in the United States and dominated illegal trade. The place of the illegal activities were called speakeasies, they let the people have a great time without any threat of being caught. But if they ever did get caught, the mob boss in that city would quickly pay them off and make sure they don’t say anything. Organized crime was also a huge part of the 1920s. Specific mobsters would pay off the police, politicians, and even judges to keep their name out of things. The Mafia provided the demand for alcohol and places to drink it. They left the “Roaring 20s” with millions of dollars and legacies that will live on