The Consequences of Prohibition
Enforcing the Volstead Act was difficult from the start because so many people disagreed with the law and still had a strong desire for alcohol. Smuggling alcohol from outside the country (especially Canada) became popular. Americans also began to go to speakeasies, which were concealed bars. Others made their own moonshine and sold it. All of these activities led to a rise in organized crime. The passage of the 18th Amendment also led to disputes over government control of individual freedoms.
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Author Paul Maccabee explains how people got around the Volstead Act.