During the Prohibition era (19201933) in the United States, a "bootlegger" referred to individuals who illegally produced, distributed, or sold alcohol. When the 18th Amendment banned the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages, demand for liquor remained high, creating a lucrative black market. Bootleggers smuggled alcohol from Canada, the Caribbean, and other regions, or operated hidden distilleries. Many worked with organized crime syndicates, such as Al Capone’s Chicago Outfit, to supply speakeasies—clandestine bars that thrived despite the law.

Bootlegging became a dangerous yet profitable business, involving bribery of law enforcement and violent clashes between rival gangs. Some bootleggers were clever and entrepreneurial, designing secret compartments in cars or boats to transport liquor undetected. The risks were high, but so were the rewards, as many bootleggers gained wealth and power during the Prohibition years, contributing to the eventual repeal of the 18th Amendment with the 21st Amendment in 1933.

Video Iryna Syzonenko

Voiceover Christian Neale

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