ProhibitionProhibitionThe Noble ExperimentThe Noble Experiment

ProhibitionProhibitionThought of by the ProgressivesThought of by the Progressives

Was a plan to stop people from Was a plan to stop people from drinking alcoholic beveragesdrinking alcoholic beverages

1818thth Amendment AmendmentAdded to the Constitution in 1919Added to the Constitution in 1919

Made the production, sale, and Made the production, sale, and transportation of alcoholic transportation of alcoholic beverages illegalbeverages illegal

Goals of ProhibitionGoals of Prohibition

Reduce CrimeReduce Crime

Reduce PovertyReduce Poverty

Lower Death RatesLower Death Rates

Improve the Quality of LifeImprove the Quality of Life

Prohibition Prohibition “The Noble Experiment”“The Noble Experiment”

Prohibition was meant to reduce Prohibition was meant to reduce crime and corruption, solve crime and corruption, solve social problems, reduce the social problems, reduce the tax burden created by prisons tax burden created by prisons and poor houses, and improve and poor houses, and improve health and hygiene in America.health and hygiene in America.

Carrie NationCarrie Nation

Was a crusader for prohibitionWas a crusader for prohibition

Used a hatchet to split Used a hatchet to split wooden kegs and smash wooden kegs and smash bottles of alcoholic beveragesbottles of alcoholic beverages

Carrie NationCarrie Nation

Prohibition FailsProhibition Fails

Instead prohibition lead to more Instead prohibition lead to more crime and corruption and even crime and corruption and even more social problems.more social problems.

BootleggersBootleggersSmuggled liquor from overseas Smuggled liquor from overseas

and Canada, stole it from and Canada, stole it from government warehouses, or made government warehouses, or made their owntheir own

Illegal speak-easies replaced Illegal speak-easies replaced saloons during prohibitionsaloons during prohibition

Bootleggers Running from the LawBootleggers Running from the Law

Crash While a Bootlegger was Crash While a Bootlegger was Running from RevenuersRunning from Revenuers

Speak EasiesSpeak Easies

Organized CrimeOrganized CrimeOrganized gangs controlled most of the Organized gangs controlled most of the

bootlegging industry.bootlegging industry.

Gangs bribed federal agents and city Gangs bribed federal agents and city officials leading to corruption among the officials leading to corruption among the police.police.

Rival gangs would fight over money and this Rival gangs would fight over money and this led to over 400 gang related murders in led to over 400 gang related murders in Chicago alone.Chicago alone.

GangstersGangsters

Al Capone Al Capone

Bugs MoranBugs Moran

Al CaponeAl Capone

Why Did Prohibition Fail?Why Did Prohibition Fail?Prohibition failed because the policy was Prohibition failed because the policy was

pretty much unenforceablepretty much unenforceable

Only 5% of smuggled liquor was actually Only 5% of smuggled liquor was actually stopped from coming into the countrystopped from coming into the country

Gangs overpowered or bribed authority Gangs overpowered or bribed authority figuresfigures

Problems Caused by Problems Caused by ProhibitionProhibition

• Instead of lowering the crime rate Instead of lowering the crime rate prohibition actually lead to an prohibition actually lead to an increase in crime.increase in crime.

• Large amounts of money could be Large amounts of money could be made from illegal bootlegging.made from illegal bootlegging.

The End of The End of ProhibitionProhibition

The 21The 21stst Amendment ended Amendment ended prohibition in 1933prohibition in 1933

Results of ProhibitionResults of Prohibition

Americans began to drink more hard liquorAmericans began to drink more hard liquor

Americans drank more potent drinks and Americans drank more potent drinks and became more drunk by drinking lessbecame more drunk by drinking less

Illegally made products had no standards Illegally made products had no standards so people began to die from poisoned so people began to die from poisoned liquor.liquor.

Results of ProhibitionResults of Prohibition

Organized crime grew into an empireOrganized crime grew into an empire

Disrespect for the law grewDisrespect for the law grew

Consumption of alcohol increased Consumption of alcohol increased dramaticallydramatically