On October 28, 1919, U.S. Congress, over President Woodrow Wilson’s veto, passed the Volstead Act, more popularly called the National Prohibition Act. The following year, on January 16th, 1920, the act was put into effect in the U.S.. This act established the banning or prohibition of: selling, producing and distributing; not the consumption, of alcoholic products. This act put thousands out on the streets and angered millions of Americans. Nevertheless, the American people joined together and managed to discover a bypass for this newly established law. Bootlegging was the given name for this detour. It is described by Britannica.com as: “the illegal traffic of liquor in violation of legislative restrictions on its manufacture, sale, or transportation.”
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new crime bosses popped out of everywhere; Dutch Schultz (The Bronx, New York), Charles “Lucky” Luciano (Philadelphia), George “Bugs” Moran (Cairo, Illinois). These are some of the most infamous gangsters that controlled the streets during the “Roaring 20’s”. However, the cruelest, most neurotic, ravenous one of them all was Alphonse Gabriel Capone, better known as Al “Scarface” Capone. Born in Brooklyn, New York on January 17th, 1899 to two Italian, immigrant parents (Gabriele and Teresina Capone), Capone’s early life was not an easy one. As a child, Capone showed great promise in his studies, but was expelled from Catholic school at the age of 14 for striking a female teacher in the face. On the streets, Capone was nearly immediately pushed into the criminal world. At 20 years old Capone was invited to Chicago to join Johnny Torrio’s gang. He started his criminal career as a bouncer at one of the gang’s brothels; this is where Capone contracted Syphilis. As Torrio’s right hand man, Capone accompanied him to various, “meetings”. But in January 1925, Capone was ambushed, and separated from Torrio. Torrio, while returning from a shopping trip, was also ambushed, but unlike Capone, he was shot several times. While he was not in critical condition, Torrio believed himself to be in too much danger to head the gang in the future. The leadership was handed down to Capone, with it he would become one of the most powerful and dangerous men to call America his home. As a crime boss, Capone refused to call himself less than a business man attempting to please the people. His title and his intention, spread across American soil, but the American people wanted more. Capone’s gang was attributed with 33 deaths in Chicago alone, but refused to accept the penalty for nearly none of them. Included in those which they hadn’t done, was The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre. On February 14th, 1929, two men, dressed as Police Officers trapped 7 members of the Bugs Moran gang
new crime bosses popped out of everywhere; Dutch Schultz (The Bronx, New York), Charles “Lucky” Luciano (Philadelphia), George “Bugs” Moran (Cairo, Illinois). These are some of the most infamous gangsters that controlled the streets during the “Roaring 20’s”. However, the cruelest, most neurotic, ravenous one of them all was Alphonse Gabriel Capone, better known as Al “Scarface” Capone. Born in Brooklyn, New York on January 17th, 1899 to two Italian, immigrant parents (Gabriele and Teresina Capone), Capone’s early life was not an easy one. As a child, Capone showed great promise in his studies, but was expelled from Catholic school at the age of 14 for striking a female teacher in the face. On the streets, Capone was nearly immediately pushed into the criminal world. At 20 years old Capone was invited to Chicago to join Johnny Torrio’s gang. He started his criminal career as a bouncer at one of the gang’s brothels; this is where Capone contracted Syphilis. As Torrio’s right hand man, Capone accompanied him to various, “meetings”. But in January 1925, Capone was ambushed, and separated from Torrio. Torrio, while returning from a shopping trip, was also ambushed, but unlike Capone, he was shot several times. While he was not in critical condition, Torrio believed himself to be in too much danger to head the gang in the future. The leadership was handed down to Capone, with it he would become one of the most powerful and dangerous men to call America his home. As a crime boss, Capone refused to call himself less than a business man attempting to please the people. His title and his intention, spread across American soil, but the American people wanted more. Capone’s gang was attributed with 33 deaths in Chicago alone, but refused to accept the penalty for nearly none of them. Included in those which they hadn’t done, was The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre. On February 14th, 1929, two men, dressed as Police Officers trapped 7 members of the Bugs Moran gang