During the Prohibition era (1920–1933), when the U.S. government banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol under the 18th Amendment, bootleggers emerged as key players in the illegal liquor trade. These smugglers and illicit distillers supplied alcohol to a thirsty public, often producing homemade “moonshine” or smuggling foreign liquor from Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. Bootleggers operated through secretive networks, bribing law enforcement and politicians to evade capture, while speakeasies—hidden bars—served as their distribution hubs. Organized crime syndicates, like those led by Al Capone, flourished, amassing wealth and power. Bootlegging not only fueled a black market but also highlighted widespread resistance to Prohibition, contributing to its eventual repeal in 1933.

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