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Causes and Attributes of the Prohibition

 

            During the Prohibition era a famous physicist named Albert Einstein said "The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this." (My First Impression of the U.S.A., 1921). The Prohibition was the law of the land during January 16, 1920- February 17, 1933 and with this the manufacturing, importation, transportation, export, and sale of alcohol beverages was no longer legal in the United States and other countries like Canada. Prohibition was expected to solve social issues like reducing crime and corruption, solving social problems, reducing the tax burden created by prisons and poorhouses, and improving health and hygiene in the country. Prohibition had the opposite effect of its intended purpose, becoming a huge failure and on top of that, like Albert said the government could not enforce the law at all. The prohibition was a direct cause of the increase of illegal activity's, economic and social issues like organized gang crime, domestic violence, health concerns, and a multitude of other crimes and issues during that era. .
             The prohibition of the 1920s resulted in small gangs becoming big and more powerful. This caused gangs and those who were already violent to become more violent just so they could expand their "business" and territory. The crime rate rose sharply, as most of the world was behaving illegally. These gangs would run speakeasy's (secret bars), brothels, casinos and other ventures that made them more than enough money to do anything they wanted. Then, it was inevitable that others would resort to crime and violence. The public demand for alcohol led to the successful business for bootleggers.


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