Gangsters and Bootleggers in the 1920s

Gangsters and Bootleggers

By Will BBobbie T

Barbara L

Bootlegging and Rum-Running

Bootlegging- smuggling of alcohol on land

Rum-running- smuggling of alcohol over seas

Gangsters made huge profit from bootlegging alcohol because there was a large desire for it and the government could not tax or regulate it

Famous Gangsters

Al Capone

Leader of a gang called the“Capones” in Chicago

Famous for bootlegging andracketeering

Participated in Chicago’s“St. Valentine’s Day Massacre”

Bill McCoy Considered himself an “honest

lawbreaker” Rum-runner during prohibition Smuggled from the Bahamas to “rum row” in Long Island Actions created the phrase “the real

McCoy”

Enoch “Nucky” Johnson Main character of “Boardwalk

Empire” Atlantic City political boss and

racketeer Facilitated the illegal alcohol trade in

Atlantic City Helped to build up Atlantic City as

“The World’s Playground”

Importance of Gangsters 1920s were a time of large corporate

monopolies, so the “little guy” had no voice Gangsters were “urban Robin Hoods” Helped out the “little guy” and were thus

generally well liked by their communities Some (i.e. Nucky Johnson) became

politicians because of their appeal to the masses

The mass appeal and support of politicians facilitated gangsters’ illegal activities