PROHIBITION AND PROHIBITION AND BOOTLEGGERSBOOTLEGGERS

The rise of organized crime in The rise of organized crime in the 1920sthe 1920s

A Crisis of ValuesA Crisis of Values

Many people are unhappy with the Many people are unhappy with the new way of life in the 1920s new way of life in the 1920s

Fundamentalism emerges Fundamentalism emerges Grounded in literal interpretation of the Grounded in literal interpretation of the

BibleBible Promoted a moral lifestylePromoted a moral lifestyle Rejected evolutionRejected evolution

Scopes Trial Scopes Trial

The Scopes Monkey TrialThe Scopes Monkey Trial

What was the Scopes Monkey Trial?

“ “ The reign of tears is over! The slums The reign of tears is over! The slums will soon be only a memory. We will will soon be only a memory. We will turn our prisons into factories andturn our prisons into factories and

our jails into storehouses our jails into storehouses and corncribs. Men will and corncribs. Men will walk upright now, women walk upright now, women will smile and the children will smile and the children will laugh. Hell will be will laugh. Hell will be forever for rent!”forever for rent!”

- Billy Sunday - Billy Sunday

January 1920January 1920 The 18The 18thth Amendment goes into effect Amendment goes into effect

Liquor considered a prime cause of Liquor considered a prime cause of corruptioncorruption

Leads to crime, wife and child abuse, Leads to crime, wife and child abuse, accidents on the job, and other serious social accidents on the job, and other serious social problems. problems.

Most support for Prohibition comes from Most support for Prohibition comes from the rural south and west, where there is a the rural south and west, where there is a large population of Protestants that view large population of Protestants that view alcohol consumption as alcohol consumption as immoral immoral

Speakeasies and Speakeasies and BootleggersBootleggers

Speakeasies: Underground saloons Speakeasies: Underground saloons and nightclubsand nightclubs

Bootleggers: smuggle liquorBootleggers: smuggle liquor

Prohibition, Prohibition, 1920-19331920-1933

CAUSESCAUSES Various religious groups Various religious groups

thought drinking alcohol thought drinking alcohol was sinfulwas sinful

Reformers believed Reformers believed government should protect government should protect public’s healthpublic’s health

Reformers believed alcohol Reformers believed alcohol led to crime, wife and child led to crime, wife and child abuse, and accidents on abuse, and accidents on the jobthe job

There was wartime hostility There was wartime hostility on the part of native-born on the part of native-born Americans toward German-Americans toward German-American brewers, as well American brewers, as well as toward other immigrant as toward other immigrant groups that used alcoholgroups that used alcohol

EFFECTSEFFECTS There was a disrespect for There was a disrespect for

the lawthe law An increase in lawlessness, An increase in lawlessness,

such as smuggling and such as smuggling and bootlegging was evidentbootlegging was evident

Criminals were supplied Criminals were supplied with a new source of with a new source of enormous incomeenormous income

There was a growth of There was a growth of organized crime.organized crime.

The rise of organized crimeThe rise of organized crime