The St. Valentine's Day Massacre
In the 1920s and early 1930s, a new Constitutional Amendment, the 18th Amendment Act was ratified. The new amendment banned the manufacture, production, and distribution of alcoholic beverages. The so called Prohibition Act was supposed to improve society, considering that alcohol was said to be a threat to the integrity of the most vital institutions, especially the institution of the family (“Prohibition” 1). Unfortunately, this act which was intended to improve our society, only led to violence and the growth of organized crime. In fact, it eventually led to the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre, one of the worst examples of the failures of Prohibition.
By the late 1920s, the idea of limiting or forbidding …show more content…
Gangs began to make fortunes from the illegal distribution of liquor and other associated acts. This only led to territorial disputes and shifting alliances over attempts to take control by numerous ambiguous gang leaders ("FEB" 1). By the year 1924, a storm of violence between the Italian-Sicilian mob led by Al Capone and the Irish-Jewish mob led by Dion O'Banion. O'Banion was later shot dead by four people in his flower shop on North State Street (1). At O'Banion's funeral, he received a basket of roses with a note saying "From Al". This event led to a new peace treaty in 1926 by the leading gangsters. Unfortunately, this treaty did not hold due to Al Capone, who was determined to take control of the city of Chicago and become the most famous criminal of all time (1). Infamous gang leader George “Bugs” Moran eventually succeeded Dion O’Banion as a leader. Moran had no intention of submitting to “them Sicilians” (“FEB” 2). Unfortunately for Moran, the power of the Irish-Jewish mob, under his leadership, would soon face its downfall on February 13, 1929, Valentine's …show more content…
The whiskey was to be delivered at 10:30 the next morning at the garage S.M.C Cartage Company on North Clark Street. George Moran sent five of his men, including a follower to the destination. Unfortunately for Moan's men, they received something much more life threatening than alcohol. On February 14, 1929, Moran's men arrived. At around 10:50, a suspicious Cadillac, ostensibly a police car, pulled into the garage ("FEB" 2). Five men, two dressed as police and the other three dressed as civilians, stepped out of the car. After hearing loud noises and rattling from the garage, the five men stepped back into their car and sped off. Moran's men were later found dead, including an unfortunate mechanic who just happened to be a witness ("FEB" 2). Al Capone who supposedly planned out the setup was coincidentally in Florida for vacation. This made sense considering Moran's gang had started to hijack Al Capone's liquor shipments (Gingold
In the 1920s and early 1930s, a new Constitutional Amendment, the 18th Amendment Act was ratified. The new amendment banned the manufacture, production, and distribution of alcoholic beverages. The so called Prohibition Act was supposed to improve society, considering that alcohol was said to be a threat to the integrity of the most vital institutions, especially the institution of the family (“Prohibition” 1). Unfortunately, this act which was intended to improve our society, only led to violence and the growth of organized crime. In fact, it eventually led to the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre, one of the worst examples of the failures of Prohibition.
By the late 1920s, the idea of limiting or forbidding …show more content…
Gangs began to make fortunes from the illegal distribution of liquor and other associated acts. This only led to territorial disputes and shifting alliances over attempts to take control by numerous ambiguous gang leaders ("FEB" 1). By the year 1924, a storm of violence between the Italian-Sicilian mob led by Al Capone and the Irish-Jewish mob led by Dion O'Banion. O'Banion was later shot dead by four people in his flower shop on North State Street (1). At O'Banion's funeral, he received a basket of roses with a note saying "From Al". This event led to a new peace treaty in 1926 by the leading gangsters. Unfortunately, this treaty did not hold due to Al Capone, who was determined to take control of the city of Chicago and become the most famous criminal of all time (1). Infamous gang leader George “Bugs” Moran eventually succeeded Dion O’Banion as a leader. Moran had no intention of submitting to “them Sicilians” (“FEB” 2). Unfortunately for Moran, the power of the Irish-Jewish mob, under his leadership, would soon face its downfall on February 13, 1929, Valentine's …show more content…
The whiskey was to be delivered at 10:30 the next morning at the garage S.M.C Cartage Company on North Clark Street. George Moran sent five of his men, including a follower to the destination. Unfortunately for Moan's men, they received something much more life threatening than alcohol. On February 14, 1929, Moran's men arrived. At around 10:50, a suspicious Cadillac, ostensibly a police car, pulled into the garage ("FEB" 2). Five men, two dressed as police and the other three dressed as civilians, stepped out of the car. After hearing loud noises and rattling from the garage, the five men stepped back into their car and sped off. Moran's men were later found dead, including an unfortunate mechanic who just happened to be a witness ("FEB" 2). Al Capone who supposedly planned out the setup was coincidentally in Florida for vacation. This made sense considering Moran's gang had started to hijack Al Capone's liquor shipments (Gingold