Unit 2 day 2

Prohibition marked a significant period in Canadian history, driven by social movements against alcoholism.
Women's groups played a crucial role in pushing for the changes related to alcohol consumption.

Definition of Probation: The term itself is tied to stopping alcohol consumption.
Prohibition in the 1920s was focused on alcohol control, introduced in the U.S. and Canada, but their laws vastly differed.
In the United States:
- It was illegal to manufacture, transport, import, export, or sell alcohol.
- However, the Volstead Act allowed individuals to drink alcohol, creating a contradiction since access was restricted.
In Canada:
- Contrarily, it was legal to produce, transport, and sell alcohol but illegal to consume it.
- This led to Canada being categorized as a "wet" nation, contrasting with the U.S. "dry" status, largely due to job preservation concerns.

Started around 1900 with Prince Edward Island, reaching nationwide prohibition by 1918.
Strict enforcement varied across Canada, with places like Montreal being less affected than others.
Officially lasted until 1927, with widespread violations of the law during the prohibition years.

Doctors began prescribing alcohol as a means to bypass restrictions during Prohibition.
This created a lucrative opportunity for physicians, with many securing wealth by selling prescriptions.
Patients often claimed ailments to obtain prescriptions casually, such as for "sore backs."

U.S. crime families wanted to acquire alcohol from Canadian sources, particularly as U.S. breweries were restricted.
Rum runners or bootleggers: Canadian suppliers who would supply alcohol to the U.S.
Smugglers utilized various methods to transport alcohol, including bribing border officials.

Speakeasies were underground bars disguised as legitimate businesses, like tea houses.
Customers enjoyed music and drinking in a seemingly law-abiding environment, funded by organized crime.
The drinking of alcohol itself was not illegal, but the sale and distribution were heavily prohibited.

By 1927, Canada's prohibition ended, reducing the need for illicit smuggling operations.
Nevertheless, Canadian alcohol continued to be exported to the U.S., even after local consumption resumed.
A notable incident: the William Malone incident in 1929 when a shipment was seized in Boston.
The U.S. ended prohibition in 1933 under Franklin Roosevelt following widespread discontent and economic pressures.

During American prohibition, organized crime flourished, with key figures gaining prominence, notably Al Capone.
Chicago became notorious for gang violence, particularly between Capone's South Side gang and Bugs Moran's North Side gang.
Capone's influence extended beyond illegal liquor; he was involved in gambling, drugs, and murder.

U.S. federal enforcement was weak, with only around 1,500 officers attempting to control the situation.
Elliot Ness and the Untouchables: A dedicated team that aimed to target Capone and organized crime.
They used financial crimes as leverage against Capone, focusing on tax evasion rather than prohibition laws.

Ultimately, Capone was convicted not for his numerous criminal activities but for failing to pay taxes on his earnings.
His substantial income derived from illegal activities was funneled into legitimate businesses, masking his illicit operations.

Capone's downfall led to a shift in how organized crime was viewed and challenged law enforcement capabilities.
The romanticization of organized crime in popular culture belies the harsh reality of the era, marked by violence and corruption.