Prohibition was put in to practice in the passing of the 18th Amendment in 1919. The Volstead act, which it was named, made it illegal to drink and make alcohol. It was thought that in making alcohol illegal it would make the country of America a better and safer place to live in. But the reaction was not what was expected. People found ways to get alcohol weather it be by smuggling it in form other countries or making their own. There was rise violence as especially within gangs that were at war with each other over bootlegging.

The reading that have been set are Prohibition: 'The Lie of the Land', by Sean Dennis Cashman, and 'Ardent Spirits: the Rise and Fall of Prohibition', by John Kobler. These two readings inform the reader about what happen during the years of Prohibition from the 1920 to the early 1930's. The first, 'Law of the Land', is centred on prohibition in the city of Chicago. It concentrated mostly on the gangsters that made m

illions out of prohibition, like Al Capone and Johnny Torrio. The other, 'Ardent Spirits' focus more on various cities in America and how everyday people were still able to get the hands on alcohol weather buying it from speakeasies or making their own. The readings give a more in depth look at the under world of crime and the gangsters that were also seen in the movie 'The Untouchables.'

In Cashman's reading he focuses mainly on the city of Chicago and the gangsters that were involved in the bootlegging business, such as Al Capone and Jim Colosimo. Cashman gives background information on Capone and the beer wars. " The beer wars of the 1920's eliminated some gangs, attenuated others and strengthen the grip and power of Al Capone." Lie of the Land backs up what is seen in the film 'The Untouchables'. In the film we see how gangs, especially Al Capone's would use any means to get what they wanted. The reading successfully brings out the theme of gang violence that is seen in the movie. As we see in the scene when Al Capone has sent his men to kill the character of Jim Malone in cold blood, because he has seized their liquor. Here we see how gangster got revenge on people that have wronged them.

In the reading of Ardent Spirits, the author, John Kobler, does not focus on one city like Cashman does. He talks about the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Pittsburg and mostly New York. Unlike Cashman, Kobler does not give many examples of gang violence and warfare. He writes more about the everyday people and recounts stories of the people who were living through this time. He tells how they were able to obtain alcohol as does Cashman, saying they either go to one of the many speakeasy or make their own at home. Although the Volstead act stoped people from openly buying and consuming liquor it did not stop people from being able to buy the equipment that was needed t

Some common words found in the essay are:
Lie Land, Fifth Avenuea, Prohibition' Prohibition, Cashman Kobler, Al Capone, John Kobler, Capone Cashman, Johnny Torrio, Capone Gennas, Colosimo Cashman, gang violence, al capone, 'the untouchables', theme gang, gangsters killed, film 'the, theme gang violence, film 'the untouchables', cashman talks, people able, gang violence evident, beer wars, 'ardent spirits rise, rise fall, spirits rise fall,
Approximate Word count = 1274
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)