Prohibition was a huge issue during the 1920s, not only did it divide the country but it also increase organize crime and created chaos. Two sides were taken on this issue; people were either known as “drys” or “wets”. The drys argued that prohibition strengthened families, it creates better societies, it improves individuals and if people drink it can cause child abuse, they think that it is normally a lost of productivity when working and can cause liver disease. They also thought it was unpatriotic to drink and use the corn, wheat,and barley when the soldiers who were at war needed food like bread. While wets argued prohibition did not stop people from drinking, it helped create an atmosphere of hypocrisy, increased organized crime, and it encouraged political corruption. People who sold alcohol illegally were called bootleggers. One of the most famous bootleggers was Al Capone and Bugs Moran (Al Capone’s biggest rival). In order to stop the consumption and sale of liquor the Volstead Act was created along with the 18th amendment; which later got ratified with the 25th amendment; it was a law trying to stop people from selling, drinking, or purchasing alcohol.
This photo is of a newspaper from when the United States is declared a dry country. When prohibition went into effect and stoppered the spread of alcohol.
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This is Al Capone. He was one of the most famous bootleggers. He ended up in Alcatraz, but spend a majority of his life selling alcohol while doing other illegal things.
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This is when the 25th amendment came into effect. Prohibition was ratified and the image is of the wets celebrating.
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