Crime and prohibition was a large factor in the 1920’s. Prohibition or the 18th amendment was made to ban the manufacturing, transportation and sale of alcohol. In the 1920’s many people consumed alcohol. The main reason that prohibition was created was to reduce crime and corruption in America, this law was not easy to enforce. Instead of decreasing crime, prohibition increased it. In the result of this amendment, crime rate started to increase because of the desire for alcohol and the disagreement that alcohol should not be illegal. Many people, like Al Capone, a gang member, started bootlegging. Bootlegging is alcoholic liquor unlawfully made, sold, or transported, without registration or payment of taxes (The Definition). The crimes started
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Al Capone was known as the number one leader of bootlegging. He was the all time figurehead of gangs in the 1920’s. Al Capone was involved in many little crimes, like stealing, when he was younger. He was then a boss of a “racket”. Racketeering is when organized groups run illegal businesses, known as “rackets,” or when an organized crime ring uses legitimate organizations to embezzle funds (Racketeering). Al Capone had became apart of this right around the same time that prohibition was set into place. According to Sullivan, Capone had a brilliant criminal mind, and he focused it on organizing an international bootlegging ring (Organized Crime). Not only did Al Capone bootleg he was also a notorious killer. He was the main man behind the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Al Capone sought to consolidate control by eliminating his rivals in the illegal trades of bootlegging, gambling and prostitution (history.com). On the day of Valentines, 7 men of Al Capone's enemy, George “bugs” Moran, were gunned down by some of Al Capone's men dressed as police officers. Al Capone saw prohibition as the perfect way to start using companies to bootleg. People started making fake business and using it as a way to gamble, and sell alcohol. If prohibition never happened, people like Al Capone would not have started bootlegging because there was no need to. Bootlegging was one of the many crimes that resulted from
Al Capone was known as the number one leader of bootlegging. He was the all time figurehead of gangs in the 1920’s. Al Capone was involved in many little crimes, like stealing, when he was younger. He was then a boss of a “racket”. Racketeering is when organized groups run illegal businesses, known as “rackets,” or when an organized crime ring uses legitimate organizations to embezzle funds (Racketeering). Al Capone had became apart of this right around the same time that prohibition was set into place. According to Sullivan, Capone had a brilliant criminal mind, and he focused it on organizing an international bootlegging ring (Organized Crime). Not only did Al Capone bootleg he was also a notorious killer. He was the main man behind the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Al Capone sought to consolidate control by eliminating his rivals in the illegal trades of bootlegging, gambling and prostitution (history.com). On the day of Valentines, 7 men of Al Capone's enemy, George “bugs” Moran, were gunned down by some of Al Capone's men dressed as police officers. Al Capone saw prohibition as the perfect way to start using companies to bootleg. People started making fake business and using it as a way to gamble, and sell alcohol. If prohibition never happened, people like Al Capone would not have started bootlegging because there was no need to. Bootlegging was one of the many crimes that resulted from