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Why did Prohibition fail? (Profits (Selling illegal alcohol generaed a…
Why did Prohibition fail?
Profits
Selling illegal alcohol generaed a huge profit for gangs
alcohol shipped internationally was very expensive
The Kennedy familly made most of it's profit through selling and smuggling alcohol
gangs became very rich and powerful
Al Capone was a very famous gang leader
people were willing to risk imprisionment because of the great profit generated by selling illegal alcohol
Lack of support
people were against prohibition
'Moonshine' liqour became very common (liquor made in bathtubs/ usually gin)
Speakeasy, hidden bars were people could drink, became very common
Anti-Prohibition Parade in New York in 1920s
because people kept buying illegal alcohol gangs were encouraged to keep on producing
law enforcement wasn't supported by population
Organised Crime
bootleggers and smugglers created great gangs dedicated to selling illegal alcohol
they would ship in rum form the West Indies
whiskey was smuggled across the river from Canada
gang violence became very common
St Valentine Day Massacre 1929
Further crime as trafficking drugs and humans was facilitated from bribing government agents
Big Business
Selling illegal alcohol became a multimillionaire business
Some gangs were making 2 billion dollars
With the money, federal agents could be easily bribed
Corruption
Gangs bribed most agents
1 in 12 agents were fired for taking bribes
agents were paid so badly they took the bribes
thousands of dollars were paied to top goverment officials to avoid prosecution
For example, George Remus, "the king of the bootleggers", paid thousands of dollars to top government officials.
