Prohibition and Gangsters

Prohibition and Gangsters
1920s

Background

• During the Progressive Era, many states banned alcohol. (1901-1920)

• Some Americans thought alcohol caused too many problems

• others thought banning alcohol would stop immigrants from moving to America.

• Some thought drinking was sinful

The 18th Amendment

• The 18th Amendment made it illegal to make, sell or transport alcohol.

1920-1933

​This was called Prohibition

Not all Americans were happy

They thought prohibition was a terrible idea.

Multiple Choice

A place that sold alcohol illegally was called

• bootlegger

• outlander

• speakeasy

Speakeasies

• were places that sold alcohol illegally

• To enter, you had to "speak easy"

• This meant saying a password to get you in

Multiple Choice

a person that made or transported alcohol illegally was called

• bootlegger

• anarchist

• nativist

• conservationist

Bootleggers

• were people that made, sold, or transported alcohol illegally

• Some people made "bathtub gin"

• Bathtub gin was often very dangerous to drink

• Some people died from drinking it

Multiple Select

Check the box of any story that is true

• Mr. Cyr's great grandmother was a bootlegger

• People went to church just to drink wine at mass

• People went to the doctors to get prescriptions for medicine with alcohol

Moonshine

Moonshine was homemade alcohol made in the Appalachian mountains

This means states like West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee)

Poll

Nascar racing got its start during Prohibition in the 1920s?

• TRUE

• FALSE

True

• moonshiners in North Carolina put bigger, more powerful engines in their cars

• they wanted to be able to outrun the police

• They started racing one another, and as a result...

• NASCAR RACING was born.

Multiple Choice

During Prohibition, law enforcement could not enter a speakeasy without permission from the man guarding the door.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Problems with Prohibition

• It was impossible to enforce

• It turned normal people into criminals

• Some policeman, politicians and judges took bribes to look the other way.

Some Americans however

• took Prohibition very seriously

• They turned in neighbors that drank

• Some law officials did their job the best they could

Prohibition led to the rise of organized crime and gangsters like ....

Al Capone

• grew up in tough New York neighborhood

• joined Gentleman Johnny Torio's gang

• Capone donated $ to charities, went to church. People liked him.

Capone

• made millions in bootlegging, prostitution and gambling

• He controlled the city of Chicago

Multiple Choice

As a young kid, Capone was kicked of a school for punching a teacher (A nun)

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Select

How did Capone get the name Scarface?

• He cut himself to make himself look tougher

• He touched a waitress inappropriately and her brother cut him with a knife

• His wife caught him cheating and slashed his face

The Untouchables

contains one of Capone's most famous incidents. - The Bloody Bat!

Capone's rival in Chicago

was Bugs Moran

The St. Valentines Day Massacre 1929

• Bugs Moran tried to kill Capone

• He failed

• Capone vowed revenge

• On February 14th 1929, he got it...

b

​Capone arranged the murder of 7 rival gang members

Was Capone punished?

• No, he had an alibi

• He was with his mistress in Florida.

• Before authorities could question her, Capone married her.

Elliot Ness

The man who finally brought Capone down

The Untouchables

Ness had a group of law enforcement officials that could not be corrupted.

They cleaned up Chicago

The movie The Untouchables

​

Tells the story of Capone and Ness

​

​

​

Multiple Select

Ness finally got a jury to send Capone to prison. What was Capone convicted of doing?

• bootlegging alcohol

• running illegal gambling houses

• not paying taxes

• Running a prostitution ring

Capone was sent to Alcatraz Prison - known as the Rock

Prohibition Ended in 1933

• The Government needed $

• Not taxing alcohol cost the government billions of dollars.

• The 21st Amendment ended Prohibition

Open Ended

What did you find to be the most interesting thing you learned about Prohibition and Gangsters today and why?