Final answer:
The disregard for Prohibition and popularity of criminals like Al Capone in the 1920s is due to the profitable bootlegging industry and organized crime. Law enforcement corruption and public opposition to what was seen as government overreach also contributed to this phenomenon. The situation eventually culminated in the repeal of Prohibition in 1933.
Step-by-step explanation:
The American public's disregard for Prohibition and the popularity of crime figures like Al Capone during the 1920s can be best accounted for by the economic incentives that made bootlegging and speakeasies profitable. Unlike the options suggesting a widespread moral duty, lack of organized crime activity, or strict enforcement, the era was characterized by a significant rise in organized crime, driven by the immense profit opportunities in the illegal liquor trade. This was seen in every major city, especially Chicago, where the demand for alcohol remained high despite its legality, leading to an underground market. Corruption among law enforcement, coupled with public opposition to what was seen as government overreach, fueled the popularity of criminals like Al Capone, who gained a reputation for flouting the law and providing people with what they desired.
Capone's criminal empire, known as the Chicago Outfit or Chicago mafia, involved bootlegging, among other illegal activities. This and similar operations built vast fortunes as the prohibition laws, while enacted with intentions of improving society, ended up creating a thriving black market and corrupting legal systems. Despite efforts to control these illegal activities through law enforcement, the ulterior motives of profit among some officers led to selective enforcement and a growing disregard for Prohibition, which was eventually repealed in 1933 due to the complications and overwhelming opposition it had engendered.