Speakeasies
By Jerrin Jacob 6th Period
5 Basic Facts
- Businesses that illegally sold alcohol beverages when alcohol was illegal in the United States.
- They were called "Speakeasies" because it was a code word.
- Speakeasies were usually located in the north. Mostly in Chicago.
- Some speakeasies had sold alcohol in coffee cups.
- Many speakeasies had membership cards in order to purchase their beverages.
Fun/Interesting Facts
- New York City nearly had 100,00 speakeasy clubs.
- Chicago had nearly 7000 speakeasy clubs in the roaring twenties.
- A lot of government officials went to speakeasies, though it was illegal.
- The "lower class" people who could not afford high quality liquor, were sold poisoned alcohol.
- Al Capone had an income of $60 million per year just from speakeasies.
Bibliography
- Pow, Helen. "Inside the Speakeasies of the 1920s: The Hidden Drinking Spots That Transformed New York City's Night Life during the Prohibition Era and beyond." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 26 Jan. 2013. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.
- "Speakeasies." Facts about : Prohibition History for Kids ***. N/a, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015. <http://www.american-historama.org/1913-1928-ww1-prohibition-era/speakeasies.htm>.
- PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015. <http://www.pbs.org/jazz/exchange/exchange_speakeasies.htm>.