Bootlegging
Form for prescription whiskey from Prohibition
National Prohibition Act Prescription Form for Medicinal Liquor. 21 Oct. 1929. The National Museum of American History, Smithsonian, americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1441835. Accessed 11 Jan. 2017.
Gift of Gary P. and Sandra Bade
National Prohibition Act Prescription Form for Medicinal Liquor. 21 Oct. 1929. The National Museum of American History, Smithsonian, americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1441835. Accessed 11 Jan. 2017.
Gift of Gary P. and Sandra Bade
Prohibition, the banning of alcohol, in America lasted from 1920 until 1933. While this amendment was intended to improve the morals of the American people, it had unforeseen consequences. One such consequence was the rise in organized crime due to a demand for bootleg alcohol. Prohibition helped to create big business in crime, with gangsters such as Al Capone amassing fortunes off the sale of illegal alcohol. This webpage examines how bootlegging effected and increased crime in 1920s and 1930s America.
Bootlegging. Smithsonian, p. 1. National Museum of American History, americanhistory.si.edu/american-enterprise-exhibition/corporate-era/bootlegging.
In this drawing, artist Winsor McCay portrays a city scape along with a gun labeled crime, a syringe labeled dope, and bootleg whisky. This drawing was created in 1920, while Prohibition, the banning of alcohol, was being enforced in America. As a result of this ban, crime in many cities increased due to the demand for smuggled alcohol, called bootleg alcohol. This gave way to a new era of organized crime in large cities. This painting represents how this artist viewed life in the cities while prohibition and organized crime raged.
McCay, Winsor. Bootleg Whisky, Crime, Dope. Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/2005693366/. Accessed 5 Oct. 2016.
Gangs
Al Capone is arguably one of the most infamous gangsters in American history. Prohibition gave rise to his empire, one filled with bootleg alcohol, drugs, guns, and money. Due to the amount of power Capone acquired during his time in Chicago, he practically ruled the city. With no hesitations about killing to get what he wanted, Capone rule Chicago with fear. He is the epitome of a 1930s gangster.
"How Al Capone Practically Owned Chicago." YouTube, uploaded by Smithsonian Channel, Google, 20 Apr. 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLssbck47_A&feature=youtube_gdata_player. Accessed 1 Jan. 2017.
This photo captures gang leaders of America’s 1920s and 1930s: George Carrozza, Frank Piazza, Joe Howard, Andres Desso, John Maloney, Sylvester Aggolia, Ralph D’Amato, John Stabile, and, of course, Al Capone. These men controlled cities, rising to power during Prohibition and taking advantage of the demand for bootleg alcohol. These Italian Americans shaped the definition of an American gangster, their influence can been seen on such movies as "The Godfather" and "Goodfellas."
Al Capone and Other Gangsters. 26 Dec. 1925. Smithsonian Institution, collections.si.edu/search/tag/tagDoc.htm? recordID=npg_NPG.97.221&hlterm=al%2Bcapone. Accessed 1 Jan. 2017.
Another type of gangster was common in the 1920s and 1930s America, one unlike Al Capone and the others who had based their empire in drugs and bootleg alcohol. The Tri-State Gang were gangsters who caused chaos everywhere they went. Committing train robberies, bank robberies, jail breaks, along with other crimes, these gangsters were the inspiration for many fictional accounts of 20s gangsters. This specific gang inspired the movie "Highway 51," the television series "The Untouchables", and appeared in several comic books. This showcases America’s obsession with all types of crime in its entertainment.
"Tri-State Gang." United States Postal Inspection Service, Smithsonian, postalmuseum.si.edu/behindthebadge/tri-state-gang.html. Accessed 11 Nov. 2016.
Mafia
The Italian-American Mafia in the United states rose to power through liquor trade, starting in the 1920’s Prohibition Era. During the late 19th century and early 20th century many immigrants came to America from Italy in search for better economic opportunities. They settled into large neighborhoods especially in New York. In these neighborhoods, some people were criminals who formed gangs. The group name for these people was the Mafia. The Mafia has committed several violent crimes and uses secret rituals. People like Al Capone and John Gotti caught the attention of the public and suddenly the whole Mafia became part of common culture. They inspired creation of various movies and books.
"Mafia in the United States." History.com, www.history.com/topics/mafia-in-the-united-states.
"Mafia in the United States." History.com, www.history.com/topics/mafia-in-the-united-states.