13. The Federal Crackdown and Decline
The repeal of Prohibition in 1933, combined with stricter federal enforcement and surveillance, marked the decline of traditional bootlegging. Government agencies increased raids and penalties, making it far riskier to operate illegal stills. As legal distilleries flourished and moonshine demand waned, many former bootleggers faded into history. The end of Prohibition ultimately shifted the landscape, but the legacy of rebellion endured long after the last stills went cold.
