How Prohibition Created the Mafia | History

Summary

In the 1920s, Prohibition was intended to curb alcohol consumption and improve society, but it instead fueled organized crime. Bootlegging and rum running became rampant, as gangs like Al Capone’s grew immensely profitable. Violence, including infamous events like the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, marked the decade as criminal enterprises expanded their power through bribery and murder. Prohibition ended in 1933, but the mafia's influence endured, transitioning into other illicit activities. The era showcases the unintended consequences of trying to legislate morality and the rise of a powerful, violent criminal underworld in America.

Takeaways

• 😀 Prohibition in the 1920s was expected to reduce violence, but instead led to widespread corruption, organized crime, and violent murders.
• 😀 Activists like Carrie Nation and industrialists supported Prohibition due to concerns about alcohol’s negative effects on society and productivity.
• 😀 Prohibition was also fueled by racial prejudices, with anti-alcohol campaigns targeting German and Irish immigrants, who were often accused of being drunks.
• 😀 46 states ratified the 18th Amendment, allowing Prohibition to take effect, with only Connecticut and Rhode Island dissenting.
• 😀 Although alcohol consumption dropped initially after Prohibition began, loopholes such as home fermentation, doctor prescriptions, and religious exemptions allowed many to continue drinking.
• 😀 The absence of a regulated alcohol industry created a massive opportunity for organized crime to flourish through bootlegging and black market alcohol distribution.
• 😀 Street gangs quickly evolved into large-scale criminal organizations, employing a wide network of workers and corrupting politicians and law enforcement to ensure their success.
• 😀 Gangs also engaged in violent turf wars, especially in cities like Chicago, where gang-related murders, like the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, became infamous.
• 😀 Prominent gangsters like Al Capone and Johnny Torrio took control of massive bootlegging operations, and Capone eventually inherited a billion-dollar business from Torrio.
• 😀 Charles 'Lucky' Luciano reorganized New York’s mafia families and founded The Commission, which included major crime families from other cities like Chicago and Buffalo.
• 😀 Prohibition officially ended in 1933 with the 21st Amendment, but the mafia continued to thrive and expand into other illicit activities such as loan sharking, prostitution, and gambling.

Q & A

What was the main goal of the temperance movement in the early 20th century?

The temperance movement aimed to reduce or eliminate the consumption of alcohol, believing it would lead to a more peaceful and productive society. Activists, particularly women, sought temperance as a means to combat issues like domestic abuse, while industrialists believed it would improve worker productivity.

How did racism play a role in the temperance movement?

Racist organizations used the temperance movement to express xenophobic views, particularly against European immigrants, such as Germans and Irish, who were stereotyped as heavy drinkers. This reflected broader racial and ethnic prejudices in the U.S. during that time.

What loopholes existed in the Volstead Act that allowed alcohol consumption to continue despite Prohibition?

The Volstead Act allowed several loopholes that permitted alcohol consumption, including the ability to ferment grapes at home, receive alcohol prescriptions from doctors, and certain religious exemptions. These loopholes helped people continue drinking despite the law.

What impact did the prohibition of alcohol have on organized crime in America?

Prohibition led to the rapid rise of organized crime as criminal gangs took advantage of the black market for alcohol. Gangs evolved from small-time street operations into large-scale bootlegging enterprises, involving everything from distilling liquor to rum running, and they used violence and bribery to protect their interests.

What was the St. Valentine's Day massacre, and why is it significant in the context of Prohibition?

The St. Valentine's Day massacre occurred in 1929 when seven members of a rival gang were murdered by men working for Al Capone, dressed as policemen. It highlighted the extreme violence and competition among gangs for control over bootlegging operations during Prohibition.

How did gang leaders like Johnny Torrio and Al Capone shape organized crime in Chicago during Prohibition?

Johnny Torrio and Al Capone played key roles in shaping organized crime in Chicago by consolidating power among the city's gangs. Torrio, who served as Capone's mentor, helped organize the gangs, and after Torrio's retirement, Capone inherited a massive criminal empire worth over $1 billion annually in today's terms.

What was the role of Charles 'Lucky' Luciano in the New York City Mafia during the Prohibition era?

Charles 'Lucky' Luciano played a pivotal role in reorganizing New York's Mafia under a more unified structure. He orchestrated the murders of key figures such as Joe 'The Boss' Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano in 1931, eventually founding The Commission, a national crime syndicate that brought together Mafia families from various cities.

How did Prohibition end, and what was its lasting impact on organized crime?

Prohibition ended in 1933 with the ratification of the 21st Amendment, which repealed the 18th Amendment. However, the Mafia and other criminal organizations continued to thrive, diversifying into activities like loan sharking, prostitution, and illegal gambling, and profiting from the criminal networks built during Prohibition.

Why was the violence in cities like Chicago particularly high during Prohibition?

The violence in cities like Chicago was a result of competition between criminal gangs for control of the lucrative alcohol market. Gangs fought over territory and resources, leading to widespread killings and brutal conflicts, such as the St. Valentine's Day massacre.

What role did bribery play in the success of bootlegging operations during Prohibition?

Bribery was essential for the success of bootlegging operations, as gang leaders would often bribe law enforcement, politicians, and even Prohibition agents to allow their illegal businesses to run smoothly and avoid arrests or seizures of their goods.