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Prohibition and Organized
Crime
Matthew Scott
Professor Frank Garmon
8:00am
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In 1919, the United States Government ratified the 18th amendment establishing the
Prohibition of alcohol consumption. This led to a rise in the illegal production, transportation,
and sale of alcohol, which was called Bootlegging. This especially went on in inner cities of
metropolises like Chicago and New York City. Facilitating most of these illegal actions were
families or groups that had been involved in crime already. Since the start of Prohibition,
organized crime grew to meet the needs of the people and gain profit from the illegal
opportunity. The organized crime became extremely rampant to the point that corruption formed
in government and law enforcement to prevent justice for these crimes. The money that was at
stake lead to many top government officials to have an influence in these illegal acts because of
the control they had. Other externalities that grew from organized crime during prohibition were
the rise of speakeasies. Speakeasies were secret bars that were hidden and sold alcohol to people
