Al CaponeAl Capone

Alcohol Smuggling during the 1920’s“Everyone calls me a racketeer, but I call myself a business man”

The Eighteenth AmendmentThe Eighteenth Amendment

19191919 Prohibited theProhibited the

manufacturing, sale andmanufacturing, sale andtransportation of alcoholictransportation of alcoholicbeveragesbeverages

Chicago voted six to oneChicago voted six to oneagainst the amendmentagainst the amendment

People in Chicago werePeople in Chicago wereoutraged by the passingoutraged by the passingof the passing of theof the passing of theamendmentamendment

Al Capone and ProhibitionAl Capone and Prohibition In 1919, Al Capone movedIn 1919, Al Capone moved

to Chicagoto Chicago Capone quickly became theCapone quickly became the

moss boss of the Fivemoss boss of the FivePoints GangPoints Gang

He became the leader ofHe became the leader ofthe rapidly evolving bootlegthe rapidly evolving bootlegoperation to smuggleoperation to smugglealcohol to the people ofalcohol to the people ofChicagoChicago

Bootlegging was successfulBootlegging was successfulbecause there was a largebecause there was a largedemand for alcohol evendemand for alcohol eventhough it was illegalthough it was illegal

The process of alcohol smugglingThe process of alcohol smuggling

Counterfeiting prescriptionsCounterfeiting prescriptionsand liquor licensesand liquor licenses

Creation of secret breweriesCreation of secret brewerieswith elaborate securitywith elaborate securitysystems to avoid policesystems to avoid policedetectiondetection

Al Capone developed goodAl Capone developed goodrelationships with powerfulrelationships with powerfulpoliticians and was able topoliticians and was able tosway voters into voting forsway voters into voting forthe candidate who wouldthe candidate who wouldtolerate his alcoholtolerate his alcoholsmuggling businesssmuggling business

Violence in CaponeViolence in Capone’’s Businesss Business Al Capone was not afraid toAl Capone was not afraid to

take violent measures totake violent measures toprotect his businessprotect his business

Around 800 gangsters wereAround 800 gangsters werekilled in disputes betweenkilled in disputes betweenalcohol sales and Al Caponealcohol sales and Al Caponeand his gang are suspectedand his gang are suspectedto have contributed to 200to have contributed to 200of those in Chicago aloneof those in Chicago alone

In 1929, during infamousIn 1929, during infamousSt. ValentineSt. Valentine’’s Days DayMassacre, seven member ofMassacre, seven member ofa rival gang were shot anda rival gang were shot andkilled by Caponekilled by Capone’’s gang.s gang.

Al Capone as a business manAl Capone as a business man Al Capone and his gangAl Capone and his gang

obtained a monopoly overobtained a monopoly overthe alcohol smugglingthe alcohol smugglingoperation in Chicago duringoperation in Chicago duringthe prohibition erathe prohibition era

Al Capone had a largeAl Capone had a largeclientele from the rich to theclientele from the rich to thepoorpoor

He was successful becauseHe was successful becausehe received admiration fromhe received admiration froma large part of the Chicagoa large part of the Chicagocommunity including citycommunity including cityand government officialsand government officials

Al Capone presentedAl Capone presentedhimself as himself as ““a well-to-doa well-to-dobusinessman rather than abusinessman rather than ashady racketeershady racketeer”” and was and was““more ruthless than anymore ruthless than anyother moss boss at theother moss boss at thetimetime””

The End of CaponeThe End of Capone’’s Business Careers Business Career

In 1931, Capone was sentIn 1931, Capone was sentto prison for income-taxto prison for income-taxevasionevasion

It is estimated that CaponeIt is estimated that Caponemade around 50 millionmade around 50 milliondollars before being sent todollars before being sent toprison.prison.

Al Capone will always beAl Capone will always beremembered as one of theremembered as one of themost infamous gangstersmost infamous gangstersand businessman inand businessman inAmerican historyAmerican history

Works CitedWorks Cited http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/533/al_capone_double.jpghttp://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/533/al_capone_double.jpg http://moretimespace.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/prohibition.jpghttp://moretimespace.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/prohibition.jpg http://www.albany.edu/~wm731882/finnishprohibition.jpghttp://www.albany.edu/~wm731882/finnishprohibition.jpg http://www.thegreatdepression.co.uk/wp-content/img/proibihition.JPGhttp://www.thegreatdepression.co.uk/wp-content/img/proibihition.JPG http://www.chicagohs.org/history/capone/gif/massacre.jpghttp://www.chicagohs.org/history/capone/gif/massacre.jpg http://properlyscared.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/al-capone.jpghttp://properlyscared.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/al-capone.jpg http://www.blavish.com/wp-http://www.blavish.com/wp-

content/uploads/2006/04/Al%20Capone%20Court.jpgcontent/uploads/2006/04/Al%20Capone%20Court.jpg