Prohibition in the US

Prohibition in the US was a ban on alcohol from 1920 to 1933. The movement was led by Protestants who believed alcoholism or just the consumption of it was poisoning society. Those for prohibition called themselves the "dry" crusaders. In 1920 the 18th Amendment was passed and the consumption of alcohol in the US was banned. However, not everyone supported the passing of this law, so they went around it. Secret bars called speakeasies started to pop up. Many times the police who were meant to enforce the law, took bribes from speakeasy owners or even joined in drinking. The way these speakeasies were getting their alcohol was from smugglers. Many began to join in the "business" of smuggling. It was easy and good money. Most famously there was Al Capone. He is one of America's notorious gangsters today. Because of him, there was a lot of violence. The biggest example would be the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre where 9 rival gang members were shot and killed in broad daylight. With the enormous amount of violence and lack of enforcement, in 1933 the ban on alcohol was repealed.