The Untouchables

Research

PROHIBITION1. What does the word prohibition mean (literally)?

The act of stopping or forbidding something2. What does it mean in the context of American history during the first third of the

20th century? the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcoholic beverages was forbidden

3. When did it start and end? Give names and dates of laws/acts/bills which created/enforced/stopped it.

Created: 18th Amendment – 1917 Enforced: Volstead Act – 1919 Stopped: 21st Amendment - 1933

4. Which dominant cultural group put Prohibition into place? Why did it do this? W.A.S.P. s (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) To maintain control by enforcing its own moral codes on the new immigrants coming into

the country5. What did it actually achieve? Who benefited?

Nothing constructive, mass lawlessness Criminals

6. Why was it doomed to failure? It asked people to stop doing something they enjoyed and had been part of life for

hundreds of years

Chicago

7. Why did Chicago come to prominence during the Prohibition era in America?

• Discuss people

A large influx of immigrants had moved into the city

Poverty generated crime for some

• Discuss its geographic location

It is situated near the Canadian Border in the North East of America making it easier to smuggle illegal alcohol

Chicago

Al Capone

Al Capone

Frank Beige, alias Frank Perry, a Capone gunman (middle).

Capone with his attorney, Mike Ahern (right), and special tax lawyer Albert Fink.

Al Capone

Phil D'Andrea, Capone's bodyguard and constant companion. He was caught trying to bring a gun into the courtroom during Capone's trial.

Al Capone

Al Capone

Capone masterminded the 1929 St. Valentine's DayMassacre which left seven men dead, but was inFlorida when it happened. All but one of the victimswere members of rival "Bugs" Moran's gang.

Al Capone

14.How was he brought to justice?• Ironically, for tax evasion

15.Who was his successor?• Frank Nitti

The Untouchables