gangsters and prohibition By: RAAGAVE THANGESWARAN
Prohibition and gangsters are an essential part of Canada's history in the 1920's. A gangster is a member of an organized gang of criminals. They usually resort to violence and other illegal acts in order to defy law and order. Prohibition was the period (1920–33) when the Eighteenth Amendment was in action and alcoholic beverages could not legally be manufactured, transported, or sold in Canada. These two elements of the 1920's are directly connected. Prohibition was the basic cause of gangsters and the main purpose of gangsters was to defy and resist prohibition.
One of the most notorious Canadian gangsters of that time was Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone ( January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947). Al Capone was "Public Enemy Number 1". His job was dedicated to smuggling and bootleggingliquor. He also participated in various other criminal activities, including bribery of government figures and prostitution.
Gangsters were a result of prohibition but prohibition was a result of the The Temperance Movement which attempted to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed within Canada - and prohibit its production and consumption entirely. Most of the supporters of prohibition were women. Along with gangsters, prohibition also introduced the art rum-running or bootlegging to Canada in the 1920's. Rum-running was the illegal business of smugglingalcohol when it is forbidden by law. Rum-running would be accomplished with boats or a series of vehicles. Nonetheless, to assure safe transportation, bribery was often used.
Protest against prohibition
Police raid
Al Capone at Alcatraz
Poster in favor of Prohibition
Smuggled barrels of liquor
"All I do is to supply a public demand … somebody had to throw some liquor on that thirst . Why no t me?" - Al Capone