Final answer:
Criminal organizations thrived after the ratification of the 18th Amendment due to Prohibition, which led to widespread alcohol smuggling and the boom of organized crime, as bootleggers and speakeasies met the high demand for alcohol.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alcohol smuggling became a big business soon after the 18th Amendment was ratified. The correct answer to the statement is that C) Criminal organizations thrived as a result of Prohibition. This era saw an increase in organized crime, with bootleggers and gangs like Al Capone's profiting from the illegal alcohol trade. The Volstead Act intended to enforce the new amendment but ultimately failed to curb the production, sale, or consumption of alcohol, contributing to the success of these criminal organizations. The ban on alcohol production also meant that police and the legal system were overwhelmed, and there was widespread violation of prohibition. The demand for alcohol remained high, leading to increased activity by bootleggers and speakeasies, despite the efforts to reduce consumption. The subsequent disrespect for the law and the emergence of organized crime became a significant aspect of the 1920s and early 1930s.