A time began in 1920 that was known as "Prohibition", a time where all alcoholic substances were outlawed by the 18th Amendment. Any selling or transportation of liquor was illegal in the United States. Prohibition was put into place as an attempt to stop people from consuming alcohol but it posed the opposite effect. The people became rebellious against the law prohibiting alcohol and tried to find ways to avert the law. Many people were successful and the business of alcohol was handled underground.
Speakeasies were created. A speakeasy was basically a club for music, dancing, and, of course, booze. Bootlegging was the term coined for the operations of the sell of alcohol under the table. These operations mostly took place at speakeasies.
Speakeasies were created. A speakeasy was basically a club for music, dancing, and, of course, booze. Bootlegging was the term coined for the operations of the sell of alcohol under the table. These operations mostly took place at speakeasies.
Flappers at Speakeasy
Speakeasies were also famous for jazz music and dancing. The Charleston was a popular dance move at the time.
By 1925, there was thousands of speakeasies located in the main cities of America. The majority, and most popular of speakeasies, were located in major cities such as New York City and Chicago. These speakeasies and the supply of alcohol were run by mobsters, or gangsters. The gangs formed were large in number and very powerful and they were able to evade the law and provide for the speakeasies. The gangsters made millions of dollars off of the sale of alcohol.
Al Capone
(1899-1947)
One of the most famous, and most powerful, gangsters of the time was a man named Al Capone. He ran the bootlegging operation in Chicago and dominated the city with his power and supply of booze. Descendant of Italian immigrants, Al Capone was born in 1899 in Brooklyn, NY and died in 1947 in Miami. He was involved in gang activity by age eleven and his involvement with the mob only increased as he became older. Al Capone was also known as "Scarface" as a result from a knife fight that left scars along the left side of his face. He was a part of a New York gang and became very well known
throughout the streets of Brooklyn by his street fighting skills and the murder of two men. Through each crime, Al Capone managed to evade the authorities and his punishment. He was a smart man and later joined in partnership with a man named Johnny Torrio, a mob member and boss gambler. Together they traveled to Chicago and took over the city mobs from there. They both partnered in running the bootlegging business in Chicago until an enemy gang injured Torrio and he fled the city. After Torrio fled, Al Capone took over the Chicago mob and killed the men from the rival gang that injured Torrio. As solo leader of the Chicago gang, Capone invested in criminal businesses such as gambling, prostitution, and of course, providing liquor. The night life of the clubs was influenced by the multimillion dollar business Al Capone was running by getting the booze that his speakeasies used. Run by a gangster name Al Capone, Chicago became the largest city for gangster activity, mob life, and the best city for booze and speakeasies.
throughout the streets of Brooklyn by his street fighting skills and the murder of two men. Through each crime, Al Capone managed to evade the authorities and his punishment. He was a smart man and later joined in partnership with a man named Johnny Torrio, a mob member and boss gambler. Together they traveled to Chicago and took over the city mobs from there. They both partnered in running the bootlegging business in Chicago until an enemy gang injured Torrio and he fled the city. After Torrio fled, Al Capone took over the Chicago mob and killed the men from the rival gang that injured Torrio. As solo leader of the Chicago gang, Capone invested in criminal businesses such as gambling, prostitution, and of course, providing liquor. The night life of the clubs was influenced by the multimillion dollar business Al Capone was running by getting the booze that his speakeasies used. Run by a gangster name Al Capone, Chicago became the largest city for gangster activity, mob life, and the best city for booze and speakeasies.
Citations
DiMauro, Laurie. "Capone, Al (1899-1947)." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Ed. Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast. Vol. 1. Detroit: St. James Press, 2000. 425-426. U.S. History In Context. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.
OkrentPaperback, Daniel, and 480 pagesScribnerList price: $17. "Prohibition: Speakeasies, Loopholes And Politics : NPR." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2013.
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