Rise of Crime in the 1920s Essays - 872 Words

The 1920s are usually characterized as a time of care-free, social rebellion against the restricting ideals of the post WWI world, but it has a darker side than this. Prisons populations and crime rates rose to an all time high from where they were pre-Prohibition. Gangsters soon became the richest, most powerful men in the country and all due to the bootlegging of liquor. In New York and Chicago especially, the gangs were as diverse as the people living there, all fighting to control their areas, causing insane amounts of violence and death. Although Prohibitions aim was to decrease drunkenness and crime, it would ultimately cause more harm than good with the emergence of speakeasies which kept people drunk and gangs who increased crime†¦show more content†¦Bootlegging, the distribution and dealing of an illegal substance, was becoming increasingly popular with liquor outlawed. Bootleggers would go to great extents to bring in liquor to their customers, prymarily speakeasy owners, as well as making sure they did not lose their customers to the other vaious gangs in the area. To ensure this threats were made to owners, gang wars began, and many murders occurred. (â€Å"Prohibition†) Those who became successful bootleggers became emmensly rich and powerful resulting in the expansion and flourishing of organized crime. Most organized crime leaders, gangsters, were wealthy and lived, at least on the outside, a sophisticated and exuberant life. In fact durning the Prohibition Era many people idolized bootlegging and gangs because it was a fast way to get rich and powerful.This would lead to an increase in the population of gangs. These gangs could be extremely dangerous and would kill many, ultimately causing an increase in homicide rates by 13% (Organized Crime and Prohibition†). The reasoning behind the homicide rates going up is simple; as different mobs became more powerful in their areas and their range of illegal activities expanded they got more attention and this attention caused for rivalrys between different mobs and a higher police involvement in attempting to end theShow MoreRelatedHow did the Prohibition Change the United States of America (USA)? And why was it a failure?1490 Words   |  6 Pagesthe drinking of alcoholic beverages. The enforcement of the Volstead Act in the United States of America (USA) saw the nationwide beginning of the prohibition on the 16th of January 1920. The Prohibition brought about a change in attitude for the people of the United States (USA). It caused an extreme rise in crime; encouraging everyday people to break the law and increased the amount of liquor that was consumed nationwide. Overall this law was a failure because a law can not be enforced on a democraticRead MoreAl Capone : The Ruthless Gangster1222 Words   |  5 Pagesdue to the few tactics he utilized. Throughout the 1920s, Capone was known for being a successful criminal and almost made Prohibition nonexistent. Capone is credited for most of the illegal distribution of alcohol by using violence to threaten opposing gangs. Al Capone was the most successful distributor of alcohol due to bribing law enforcements and violence against opposing gangs(Yauncey). Capone was a very successful criminal throughout the 1920s which earned him fame during his time. Opposing gangsRead MoreOrganized Crime During the Roaring Twenties678 Words   |  3 PagesOrganized Crime During the Roaring Twenties The 1920s, or the Roaring Twenties as this epoch is often referred to as, was a major turning point in America history. During this time period many American citizens believed and even acted out of hedonism. This mindset of the general population and along with other dilemmas led to a stunning and rapid increase in the amount of organized crime. The sudden uproar of organized crime during the 1920s was caused mainly by prohibition that gave rise to manyRead MoreA comparison between the 1920s and the 1980s.1408 Words   |  6 PagesThe 1920s and 1980s are similar in many ways. Their similarities are social, economical, and political. Some of the similarities between the decades are Prohibition and the War on Drugs, the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and 1987, and the influence of music on society. Prohibition was passed as the 18th amendment, that importing, exporting, transporting, and manufacturing of alcohol was to be put to an end. Prohibition did not achieve its goals. Instead, it added to the problems that it intendedRead MoreThe Epidemic Of Organized Crime917 Words   |  4 PagesDuring the 19th century there were various issues that were occurring that launched an epidemic of organized crime, in the United States problems with organized crime were mainly seen in a social, political and cultural spectrum. During the 19th century, various problems were erupting causing conflict within society, large numbers of immigration had occurred, the majority had come from China and Ireland. When the Chinese arrived to the United States they were mostly utilized as workers for the railroadsRead MoreIdentification And Evaluation Of Sources1315 Words   |  6 PagesRyan Bankston 3/2/16 2B History Section 1: Identification and Evaluation of sources This investigation will explore the question: What were the causes that lead to Prohibition s failure in the United States? This investigation will follow the years 1893 through 1933 to analyze the reasons for Prohibition s failure as well as a shift away from Prohibition. The Prohibition era in the United States is most notably remembered for its inability to sober up the nation. According to Mark ThorntonRead More Cultural Revolution Of The 1920s Essay745 Words   |  3 Pages The 1920s were times of cultural revolution. The times were changing in many different ways. Whenever the times change, there is a clash between the quot;oldquot; and the quot;newquot; generations. The 1920s were no exception. In Dayton, Tennessee, 1925, a high school biology teacher was arrested. He was arrested because he taught the theory of evolution. The teacher, John T. Scopes, was accused of having violated the Butler Act. This was a Tennessee law that forbade the teaching of the theoryRead More Prohibition Essay examples1083 Words   |  5 Pagesthe 18th amendment in 1920. Organizations came about for the sole purpose of an alcohol free America. In 1833, an estimated one million Americans belonged to some type of temperance association (Behr 12). Many believed the absence of alcohol would help the poor as well as big business. Lower class people would put more money into savings accounts and productivity would increase among workers (Hanson 27). More importantly the â€Å"n oble experiment†Ã¢â‚¬â€was undertaken to reduce crime and corruption, solveRead MoreAmeric The Rise Of Organized Crime873 Words   |  4 PagesProfessor Wilson Writing Composition 2 3/21/16 America: The Rise of Organized Crime The United States of America is no stranger to corruption and extortion. Gang violence, the mafia, murder for pay and the marijuana industry in un-legalized states are a few examples of organized crime that happen in current day America. There are many different forms and types of organized crime today but where did they arise from? The rise and growth of organized crime in America can be attributed to government interventionRead MoreThe Rise and Fall of the Italian Mafia1664 Words   |  7 PagesCity is comprised has drastically altered the culture in the region; transforming industries with brute force and attracting much public attention. Hollywood focuses on glamorizing the Mafioso lifestyle, distracting from the true nature of organized crime. Over the past decade, the key opportunities have been utilized by the Italian Mafia, resulting in a powerful behind-the-scenes dominance over many aspects we may not expect. Its gonna be a Cosa Nostra. The Honored Society, or Mafia, as it