Essay On 1920s Crime

513 Words2 Pages

Gavin Anderson
Mr. Zimmerer
English 11
27 January, 2017
Crime in the 1920’s
“Before World War I the country remained culturally and psychologically rooted in the nineteenth century, but in the 1920s America seemed to break its wistful attachments to the recent past and usher in a more modern era” (Zeitz 1), (Crime). The 1920’s was a new era that the United States had never experienced before, whether it be good or bad. There were obvious improvements like new music, and overall technology. But, on the other side, there was a spike in crime, violence, and illegal substances. Women were most influenced by this period of time, with new dressing styles, and a shift in attitude. But overall, the spike in crime had the biggest effect on the 1920’s. …show more content…

(Zeitz 1), (Crime). Although these images are what most people see when they think of the “Roaring Twenties”, in reality there was fear and crime running rampant around the nation. The 1920's was a time that allowed gangsters to practically rule the nation. Criminals like Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde, and Baby Face Nelson, killed who they saw fit, and ruled the U.S. (Crime and Prohibition 1), (Crime). These criminals did what they pleased without any repercussion. These crime lord’s dedication to smuggling, bootlegging, and corrupting all in its path forced the government to act. (Crime and Prohibition 1), (Crime). This is when prohibition was introduced. It was ratified as the 18th Amendment in 1919, and made the manufacturing, sale, transportation, and consumption of alcohol illegal in the nation. (Crime and Prohibition 2), (Crime). Although these new rules were enforced, they didn’t stop crime. Many Americans still purchased alcohol illegally, mostly through large quantities that were smuggled over from Canada. (Crime and Prohibition 2), (Crime). So even with prohibition, alcohol was easily obtained. This ‘great and wonderful era’ was the same decade that introduced the Ku Klux Klan. (Zeitz 1), (Crime). It was a time of inner struggle for us as a nation. We didn’t know whether to follow tradition or innovation, or where either of those roads led. (Zeitz 1),

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