This day in history: American gangster and businessman Al Capone was born on this day in 1899.
Also on this day in history: Alcohol Prohibition began in the United States on this day in 1920 as the Volstead Act went into effect.
These two events would become intertwined. As people were denied what they wanted, Al Capone saw an opportunity to provide alcohol to the people and he filled the void that the government had created. "Federal authorities estimated that in 1927, Al Capone’s illegal liquor operations were generating about $60 million in total revenue a year—about $873 million today." Source
Capone eventually went to prison for tax evasion, but he may not the villain in his story. His captor, Eliot Ness, "represented the state. He was enforcing an unjust law - Prohibition - and using another unjust law - the income tax - to do it. Capone stood for our freedom to drink." Source
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