Final answer:
The establishment of speakeasies in the 1920s was an unintended consequence of the prohibition of the sale of alcoholic beverages by the federal government.
Step-by-step explanation:
The establishment of speakeasies in the 1920s was an unintended consequence of the prohibition of the sale of alcoholic beverages by the federal government. Prohibition, which took effect in 1920 with the ratification of the 18th Amendment, banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. However, the demand for alcohol remained high, leading to the rise of illegal bars known as speakeasies where people could gather to drink in secret.
Learn more about Prohibition and the establishment of speakeasies