Crime in the 1920s

Warm-up

• Do you think that the gangs of today are related to selling drugs? Why or Why not?

Vocabulary• Speakeasies- establishments which

illegally sold alcohol during Prohibition• Bootleggers- people who make, sell or

transport alcohol illegally• Prohibition- the time period in the United

States from 1920-1933 during which the making and selling of alcohol was illegal.

Review

• What amendment started Prohibition?

• Why was Prohibition started?

• Preview: Do you think Prohibition will be effective in keeping alcohol out of the U.S.?

Prohibition• Read pg 383 (2nd column) until pg 385• What was the Volstead Act?• How many people were arrested for violating

Prohibition? • What countries did most bootleggers bring

alcohol from? • How did the name Speakeasy come about?• Who took control of the illegal liquor trade?

Why?• Why were the gangs dangerous?• Why was Prohibition ended?

Al Capone

Prohibition Bust in Colorado

How is Prohibition linked to Crime?Name of Crime

Bootlegging

Murder

Blackmail

Speakeasies

Bribery

Link to Prohibition

There was still a high demand for alcohol so there was a lot of money for those who could bring it in illegally.

The gangs that controlled the illegal alcohol trade would often fight and kill one another

Gang leaders would try to blackmail police officers and other officials into allowing their illegal trade.

It was dangerous to keep alcohol at home so speakeasies were created to have secret places for people to drink

Gangs and Bootleggers often bribed cops into allowing their illegal activity.

Prohibition Cartoon

Prohibition in Maryland

• Maryland fought very hard against Prohibition.• It was the only state to never pass a state

enforcement act of Prohibition• Most people in Maryland, especially in

Baltimore opposed the law and blatantly violated it

Prohibition in Maryland continued

• Being on the Chesapeake Bay made Maryland a prime port for bootleggers.

• Maryland’s governor from 1920-1924 was a huge supporter of allowing Maryland to exist as a wet state

Baltimore during Prohibition

• Baltimore was viewed as a “center of resistance to Prohibition”

• People continued to make, drink and sell alcohol in Baltimore.

• Fells point in Baltimore was actually a major port for bootleggers.

Drinking at a Hotel in Baltimore

Right before Prohibition

Exit Slip

• From what you know about Prohibition, compare it to modern day gangs and the Drug Trade. In an article compare the two? Do you think illegal drugs led to gangs the way that Prohibition led to organized crime? Why or Why not?