Ian
priscilla 1Prohibition
December 26th 2009 06:37
As reported in the Chicago Tribune, December 5th marked exactly 75 years since the repeal of prohibition in the United States.
Coming into effect on January 16, 1920. After 13 years prohibition had become increasingly unpopular. Production, importation, and distribution of alcoholic beverages — once the province of legitimate business — were taken over by criminal gangs, which fought each other for market control in violent confrontations, including mass murder. Major gangsters, such as Omaha's Tom Dennison, and Chicago's Al Capone, became wealthy and were admired locally and nationally. Enforcement was difficult because the gangs became so rich they were often able to bribe underpaid and understaffed law-enforcement personnel and pay for expensive lawyers. Those inclined to help authorities were often intimidated, even murdered. Many citizens were sympathetic to bootleggers, and respectable citizens were lured by the romance of illegal speakeasies. The loosening of social mores during the 1920s included popularising the cocktail and the cocktail party among higher socio-economic groups. In several major cities — notably those that served as major points of liquor importation (including Chicago and Detroit) gangs wielded significant political power. A Michigan State Police raid in Detroit once netted the mayor, the sheriff, and the local congressman.
A crowded liquor store in the Loop on Jan. 15, 1920, the day before Prohibition went into effect. The 18th Amendment banned the production, sale, distribution and consumption of alcohol. Proponents believed banning alcohol would eliminate many social ills, like crime and poverty.
Two federal agents seized and destroyed 115 barrels of beer in a 1931 raid on a brewery on South Wabash Avenue.
The day after Congress passed a bill legalizing the production of beer with an alcohol content of up to 3.2 percent in April 1933, a crowd cheered a beer truck as it left a brewery on 91st Street and Second Avenue.
Just after midnight on April 7, 1933, when beer containing up to 3.2 percent alcohol could be consumed, men at the Potthast Cafe hoisted mugs of the "3.2 beer." More than 1.5 million barrels of beer were consumed during the first 24 hours.
The city of Milwaukee holds Volkfest on April 17, 1933, a special celebration to mark the return of beer containing alcohol. More than 1,500 attended the festival that was centred in the city's auditorium and spilled out onto the streets.
*This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia page for Volstead Act..
Coming into effect on January 16, 1920. After 13 years prohibition had become increasingly unpopular. Production, importation, and distribution of alcoholic beverages — once the province of legitimate business — were taken over by criminal gangs, which fought each other for market control in violent confrontations, including mass murder. Major gangsters, such as Omaha's Tom Dennison, and Chicago's Al Capone, became wealthy and were admired locally and nationally. Enforcement was difficult because the gangs became so rich they were often able to bribe underpaid and understaffed law-enforcement personnel and pay for expensive lawyers. Those inclined to help authorities were often intimidated, even murdered. Many citizens were sympathetic to bootleggers, and respectable citizens were lured by the romance of illegal speakeasies. The loosening of social mores during the 1920s included popularising the cocktail and the cocktail party among higher socio-economic groups. In several major cities — notably those that served as major points of liquor importation (including Chicago and Detroit) gangs wielded significant political power. A Michigan State Police raid in Detroit once netted the mayor, the sheriff, and the local congressman.
Last call before Prohibition
Busting barrels
Roll out the barrels
Mugs aloft
Celebrating the return of beer
*This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia page for Volstead Act..
| 24 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
