A Brief History of Prohibition in Chicago

Look again in time on the Roaring Twenties and immerse your self within the at all times fascinating world of Prohibition-era Chicago. On this weblog, we’ll discover the temperance motion that led to the nationwide ban on alcohol, the infamous Chicago gangsters who rose to energy, and iconic speakeasies that flourished whereas hiding in plain sight. Uncover how these components formed Chicago’s historical past and left an indelible mark on Chicago.

Prohibition Period Chicago: The Temperance Motion and Prohibition Legal guidelines

Within the many years main as much as Prohibition, a number of non secular teams nominated native authorities representatives that enforced dry districts. By the start of WWI, many states had adopted state-wide prohibition of using intoxicating liquors.

A frontrunner of this Temperance Motion was Andrew J Volstead. The Volstead Act or the Nationwide Prohibition Act was launched on October 28, 1919 and was supposed to hold out the intent of the 18th Modification to the US Structure, which prohibited the manufacturing, sale and transport of “intoxicating liquors.”

In response to the US Structure, “The Volstead Act prohibited the manufacturing, sale, transportation and possession of drinks that contained 0.5% or larger alcohol by quantity – a stringent definition that encompassed beer and lightweight wines along with distilled alcoholic drinks, comparable to whiskey or gin. Declaring each place the place liquor was illegally manufactured, bought or stored to be a ‘nuisance,’ the Volstead Act established civil and felony penalties, together with property forfeiture, for violations of Prohibition. The Act additionally granted federal Prohibition brokers the facility to implement its necessities all through the US.”

Credit score: Library of Congress

The Rise of Infamous Chicago Gangsters throughout Prohibition in Chicago

Whereas many of the United States was “dry,” Chicago was “moist”. Even the mayor of Chicago in 1919, William Hale Thompson, said publicly, that he was “wetter than the Atlantic Ocean.” This gave delivery to bootlegging, unlawful manufacturing, distribution and gross sales of “intoxicating liquors.” Rival gangs from throughout Chicago fought over territory. A number of the most well-known Chicago gangsters, like Al Capone, Jonny Torrio, Frank Nitti, Dean O’Banion and George Moran went to conflict over completely different territory, suppliers and distribution facilities.

A lot of the native regulation enforcement was within the pocket of those rival gangsters and could be stored secure. The rise of the Beer Wars ultimately introduced the eye to federal brokers, Eliot Ness and his Untouchables. In response to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Particular Agent Eliot Ness is among the most well-known brokers within the historical past of regulation enforcement. He supervised a group of brokers, towards all odds, and “broke the again of organized crime in Chicago,” in line with the ATF. Chicago was the Crime Capital of the World, and Ness and his group of brokers that might not be corrupted by the Chicago felony syndicates.

Credit score: Library of Congress

Prohibition Bars in Chicago: Iconic Speakeasies

Throughout Prohibition, there was virtually a speakeasy on each nook, just like Starbucks in the present day.  Right now, there stay institutions that after housed these historic speakeasies, together with:

Initially revealed on July 30, 2013. Up to date on September twenty fifth, 20214.