ere unaware of the drinking establishments locations (Thornton 6). Finally, the quality of liquor decreased due to the lack of federal production standards. Many deaths resulted from poisoned alcohol. At the beginning of Prohibition in 1920, there were 1,064 deaths from poisoned alcohol. However, by 1925 that number rose to 4,154 deaths (Thornton 5). It was virtually impossible for one to predict what their alcohol contained, and therefore, what the alcohols effect would be.The Prohibition Era impacted crime like no other period in time. Crime rates reached an all-time high, with the homicide rate increasing by 5.6% in large cities. Overall, there was a 78% increase in general crime from the Pre-Prohibition period (Thornton 9). Not only did crime increase, but it became organized (Thornton 1). Due to this dramatic expansion, jails and prisons quickly began to fill, and eventually exceed, their limits (Thornton 1). Crime was a way for those who were unhappy with Prohibition to rebel against it: Once Prohibition was repealed, the rising crime rate began to decrease (Thornton 11).As the nation essentially began to fall apart, many citizens became increasingly angry toward the United States government. They rightfully blamed the government for the rising crime rate. As Will Rogers said, The government used to murder by the bullet only. Now they murder by the quart. (Thornton 5). Numerous individuals and groups of people became continually convinced of the violation of rights generated by Prohibition and refused to do what the government required of them. In some instances it became so extreme that people refused to pay taxes (Kobler 163). Nevertheless, the government ignored these obvious cries for change.Although it was clearly struggling to survive, the government of the United States of America took several steps throughout the years to keep Prohibition alive. Acts were passed and revisions were proposed, but they were ...
