How Did Al Capone Contribute To The Rise Of Prohibition

In the year of 1920 the United States created a law that banned the importation, production and distribution of alcohol illegal. This law started a long 13 year period called prohibition. Prohibition created a new way of life for many Americans including an new era of gangsters and organized crime.

This new time in America created a large group of gangs and mob bosses, the most renowned being Al Capone or “Scarface” as he is more commonly known as. Al Capone was one of the most known gangster of this time, he was most known for his associations with bootlegging. Capone was the most powerful gangster of his time, a very smart one. Capone is in many ways like Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby, they both are smart and know how to not get caught in there illegal business. Jay was involved in the bootlegging business for a short time, he owned a drug store where the illegal drinks were sold by his trusted business partner Meyer Wolfshiem. Capone established himself in Chicago, he rose to notoriety. Capone wasn’t known to the public as a scary gangster but a “ Robin Hood of his time” he would regularly donate to charity and other organizations.

If the 18th amendment never passed there is evidence that the amount of crime that happened during those thirteen long years of prohibition, would not have happened. During this time came a new generation of parties and speakeasies. Speakeasies were underground bars and nightclubs that served alcohol. These clubs and bars were mainly ran by Gangsters and there crews. During prohibition bootlegging was incredibly large, it was an entire business in itself. The law during this time was easily bribed, most officers were bought off either by alcohol or with large sums of