Final answer:
During Prohibition, organized crime in the United States grew to unprecedented size, with figures like Al Capone running extensive illegal operations such as bootlegging. The crime syndicates expanded their activities and laundered money through legitimate businesses, which made it difficult for law enforcement to take action. Prohibition greatly empowered and enriched organized crime before its repeal in 1933.
Step-by-step explanation:
Changes in Organized Crime During Prohibition
The era of Prohibition brought about significant changes to organized crime in the United States. The 1920s saw the progression of crime syndicates from local street gangs to vast criminal empires, with figures such as Al Capone becoming household names. As authorities imposed a ban on alcohol production and sales, an immense black market arose to supply the demand, with bootlegging and the illegal operation of speakeasies becoming prevalent.
Crime syndicates, rather than moving operations overseas or adopting legal business activities, considerably grew in scale. Organizations like Capone's Chicago Outfit expanded into various illegal activities, from bootlegging to gambling and violence. Moreover, to conceal the illegal origins of their income, these groups turned to laundering their proceeds through numerous front businesses, complicating efforts by law enforcement to apprehend them. The overall effect was a marked increase in both the power and scope of organized crime during the prohibition era.
Meanwhile, attitudes towards these crime syndicates were mixed amongst the American public. Some viewed figures like Capone as providers of a desired service, while others were appalled by the violence and corruption that organized crime introduced into society. Eventually, the widespread corruption, violent gangland feuds, and pervasive black markets led to calls for the repeal of Prohibition, which came with the 21st Amendment in 1933.