After the passing of the 18th amendment, reformers rejoiced. But the demand of alcohol created a space for many enterprising mobsters such as Al Capone to consolidate power.
From LA to New York City , criminal syndicates supplied speak easies and other underground establishments with large quantities of liquor. These huge bootlegging empires used rivers and waterways to smuggle alcohol across state lines. Eventually, other criminal enterprises expanded and diversified from the bootlegging profits, such as drugs and taxing.
As different organized crime syndicates grew throughout the Prohibition era, territorial disputes were inevitable. Homicides, burglaries, and assaults increased significantly during the 20's, making cities battlefields, giving rise to the gang violence we know today.
In the face of this crime wave, law enforcement was hard pressed. Although Federal agencies and police were tasked with enforcing the Volstead Act and similar legislation, bootleggers and smugglers operated with impunity. On the state and local levels, police were similarly overwhelmed by the power and influence of organized crime syndicates and often times succumb to corruption.
From LA to New York City , criminal syndicates supplied speak easies and other underground establishments with large quantities of liquor. These huge bootlegging empires used rivers and waterways to smuggle alcohol across state lines. Eventually, other criminal enterprises expanded and diversified from the bootlegging profits, such as drugs and taxing.
As different organized crime syndicates grew throughout the Prohibition era, territorial disputes were inevitable. Homicides, burglaries, and assaults increased significantly during the 20's, making cities battlefields, giving rise to the gang violence we know today.
In the face of this crime wave, law enforcement was hard pressed. Although Federal agencies and police were tasked with enforcing the Volstead Act and similar legislation, bootleggers and smugglers operated with impunity. On the state and local levels, police were similarly overwhelmed by the power and influence of organized crime syndicates and often times succumb to corruption.