The Mafia Used Prohibition to Become Successful The Mafia was an organization rooted in defiance of the government (Michael Cavendish 78). On January 16, 1919, the 18th amendment was ratified, prohibiting the importing, exporting, manufacturing, and distribution of alcohol. Ten months later the Volstead Act was passed to enforce the law. The Volstead Act gave the United States Government the right to enforce Prohibition. The United States Government became an easy target of the Mafia by trying to …showed first 75 words of 6665 total…

…showed last 75 words of 6665 total…Row, 1975. Bridgewater, William and Kurtz, Seymor. Columbia Encyclopedia. New York: Columbia Press, 1968. Cavendish, Michael. Crimes and Punishment Volume 8. New York: Macmillan, 1989. Chandler, David L. Brothers in Blood: The Rise of Criminal Brotherhoods. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1975. Cook, Fred J. Mafia! Conneticut: Fawcett Publications, 1973. Mustain, Gene and Capeci, Jerry. Mob Star: The Story of John Gotti. New York: Franklin Watts, 1988. Tripodi, Tom and Desario, Joseph P. Crusade: Undercover Against the Mafia. New York: Franklin Watts, 1990.