Notes on Prohibition

Background

  • Late 1800s and early 1900s saw the formation of groups against alcohol consumption.

  • Key organizations:

    • Women’s Christian Temperance Union

    • Anti-Saloon League

  • Both groups favored Prohibition.

Prohibition Definition

  • A Constitutional ban on the sale, production, importation, and transportation of alcohol.

  • Implemented in the US from 1920 to 1933.

  • Canada had less strict regulations; laws were determined by individual provinces.

Impact of WWI on Prohibition

  • During World War I:

    • Women’s groups supported the idea that grains for beer should be redirected to food production.

    • Felt it was inappropriate to drink and party amidst war casualties.

Pressure for Prohibition

  • Volstead Act passed in 1919:

    • Made it illegal to manufacture and sell alcoholic beverages in the US.

  • Canadian provinces regulated alcohol; legal access varied, leading to Rum Running across borders.

Rum Running

  • Prohibition led to illicit smuggling of liquor into the US.

  • Smugglers, often from Canada, profited significantly.

  • Methods included:

    • Fishing schooners operating off the US coast, known as Rum Row.

    • Ice sleds used in winter to transport alcohol across frozen rivers.

Home-Made Alcohol Production

  • Individuals began creating homemade liquor due to Prohibition:

    • Often obtained through prescriptions or concocted using household items.

    • Common homemade drinks:

    • Jamaica Gingers

    • Panther Whiskey

    • Soda Pop Moon

    • Dangerous ingredients included:

    • Poisonous rubbing alcohol

    • Fuel oils

    • Iodine

    • Burnt sugars

    • Risks included severe health issues:

    • Internal bleeding

    • Paralysis

Rise of Bootleggers and Gangsters

  • Prohibition led to the emergence of underground bars (saloons) disguised as private clubs known as Speakeasies.

    • An entry requirement often involved a secret knock or phrase (e.g., “tell them Joe sent you”).

  • This era saw the rise of notorious gangsters:

    • Al Capone (Chicago)

    • Rocco Perri (Canada)

Al Capone

  • Leader of the Five Points Gang, established a criminal empire through bootlegging, gambling, prostitution, and drugs.

  • By 1927, had a business worth $60 million.

    • Corrupted local law enforcement with bribes.

  • Prohibition ended in 1933; Capone’s influence waned.

  • Eventually convicted of tax evasion, leading to imprisonment.

Rocco Perri

  • Known as “Canada's Al Capone.”

  • Gained notoriety as one of Canada’s foremost bootleggers during Prohibition.