Prohibition and the Increase in Crime

Paper Summary:

The national prohibition of alcohol in the United States did the exact opposite of what it was designed to do. Instead of producing "clean living", alcohol-free Americans as supporters had hoped, prohibition gave birth to some of the country's largest crime syndicates and drinking grew in popularity. The paper shows that the public glamorized these syndicates and this resulted in a large upsurge of crime in the United States. The paper examines the twin crimes of smuggling and bootlegging and looks at how the law enforcement agencies handled the sharp rise in crime.

From the Paper:

"The distillation of alcohol at home, in what was referred to as "stills", was illegal but profitable. The end product, "moonshine", was already commonly prepared by many families in rural America prior to prohibition. The distillation of moonshine ran rampant during the days of the prohibition when citizens realized how simple it was to create their own alcohol. Information on alcohol distillation was easily attainable and the necessary equipment was relatively inexpensive. Alcohol was made from corn, sugar, or potatoes " the same materials used by major manufacturers " but in the homes of individuals. "

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