Organized Crime and Corruption during the Prohibition Era
Throughout the time of Prohibition, organized crime became an apparent threat to society. Local gangs started making money primarily from prostitution, gambling and extortion. These local gangs expanded into massive crime industries when they entered the illegal alcohol business after the Amendment was passed. Organized crime took control of the distribution of alcohol which caused street violence to rise immensely. Very quickly, the astute passing of the Volstead Act caused the illegal selling and distribution of alcohol to become a multimillion dollar business. Notorious gangsters, such as Al Capone, became respected celebrities in society's world.
Even millions of dollars went to politicians and law enforcement in the form of bribes and blackmail. This alone shows that Prohibition was an immense failure, just because of the fact that people who should be protecting this law are getting involved in the "darker" side of things. "Wets" were the common nickname given to people who stood against Prohibition, including any sort of politician or person involved in law making. Chicago Mayor, Bill Thompson, declared in 1927 that "I'm wetter than the Atlantic Ocean". (_)
Even millions of dollars went to politicians and law enforcement in the form of bribes and blackmail. This alone shows that Prohibition was an immense failure, just because of the fact that people who should be protecting this law are getting involved in the "darker" side of things. "Wets" were the common nickname given to people who stood against Prohibition, including any sort of politician or person involved in law making. Chicago Mayor, Bill Thompson, declared in 1927 that "I'm wetter than the Atlantic Ocean". (_)
The Shadow of Danger
This picture shown to the left depicts an advertisement which is in favor of the extension of Prohibition. It shows the side of this predicament that the minority of Americans supported. This advertisement toys with the public's emotions by showing the protection of innocent family members from the downsides of alcohol. It insinuates the idea that alcohol and other drugs are detrimental to family life and are harmful to people of all ages, especially children. This advertisement also implies the stereotype that the prominent male figure in the family are the ones doing harm in their lives. It is trying to portray the idea that the fathers come home in a drunken state to their families and are potentially abusive and destructive around the household. The advertisement is hoping that by showing the abusive side of alcohol, people would be well informed and persuaded to stop drinking. This is contradictory to what many people believed and thought. To me, this photograph is very effective because it shows the side of prohibition that many people did not pay attention to. The picture depicts the fact that alcoholism leads to bad household situations, and disarray family lives. This was an evident problem during the era of Prohibition. (_)
This picture shown to the left depicts an advertisement which is in favor of the extension of Prohibition. It shows the side of this predicament that the minority of Americans supported. This advertisement toys with the public's emotions by showing the protection of innocent family members from the downsides of alcohol. It insinuates the idea that alcohol and other drugs are detrimental to family life and are harmful to people of all ages, especially children. This advertisement also implies the stereotype that the prominent male figure in the family are the ones doing harm in their lives. It is trying to portray the idea that the fathers come home in a drunken state to their families and are potentially abusive and destructive around the household. The advertisement is hoping that by showing the abusive side of alcohol, people would be well informed and persuaded to stop drinking. This is contradictory to what many people believed and thought. To me, this photograph is very effective because it shows the side of prohibition that many people did not pay attention to. The picture depicts the fact that alcoholism leads to bad household situations, and disarray family lives. This was an evident problem during the era of Prohibition. (_)