The Prohibition Era In The United States

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Prohibition Era

The United States has always been considered a country of freedom, where immigrants have a big number of possibilities to succeed. But it has not always been like that, there was a time where the country was not doing well financially. After the First World War, between 1920 and 1933, the United States experienced an era of prohibition. It was a hard call. “Prohibition was the most ambitious social reform ever attempted in the United States.” (p.1032) President Woodrow Wilson issued a ban in wartime to produce more food, because at that time, America had more alcohol stores than food stores or supermarkets for families to buy food. In 1919, with the ratification of the 18th amendment, which main purpose was to prohibit the manufacture, transportation, and distribution of alcohol beverages, United States began the Prohibition Era. In 1919, Congress passed something known as National Prohibition Act, in which the government provided federal guidelines for the enforcement of Prohibition, and which was led by the representative Andrew Volstead, and so this is better known as the Volstead Act.
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What people do not imagined, was the problems this could bring. People needed alcohol and the only way to do that was by the illegal way. Organized crime groups began smuggling liquor creating a war against the law. The clearest example of this war took place in Chicago, under the gangster leader Al Capone, who became a millionaire thanks to the need of the people. “In 1927 his Chicago-based bootlegging, prostitution, and gambling empire brought him an income of $60 million.” (p.1033) it is estimated that Al Capone is responsible for at least 600 killings during