1920s and Prohibition

By alexuscrook

  • 1920s and prohibition

    January 19, 1919, Congress ratified the 18th Amendment, banning the manufacture, sale and transport of alcoholic beverages.

  • 1920s and prohibition

    the death rate from poisoned liquor was appallingly high throughout the country. In 1925 the national toll was 4,154 as compared to 1,064 in 1920

  • Bonded Liquor

    In 1920, Lawyer George Remus moves to Cincinnati to set up a drug company to gain legal access to bonded liquor.

  • Bootlegging

    In 1920, Lawyer George Remus moves to Cincinnati to set up a drug company to gain legal access to bonded liquor.

  • Stilling

    In 1922, Frank Mather signs on with treasury department to scour Nelson County, Kentucky for moonshiners, arresting them and dumping their whiskey into local streams.

  • Scofflaw

    The Boston Herald offered $200 to the reader who came up with a new word for someone who ignored the edict and drank liquor that had been illegally made sold sold.

  • Al Capone

    In 1926 Alphonse 'Al' Capone is blamed for murder of prosecutor, Billy McSwiggin.

  • Legality

    In 1928, the Purple Gang of Detroit, Michigan, goes to trial for bootlegging and highjacking.

  • Great Depression

    The Great Depression starts.

  • Gangs

    By 1929 gang violence is on the rise in nearly every city in the United States.