Crime+of+the+1920s

__**Crime of the 1920s**__
The 1920s was a time of great advances in American history. Although it was a great time the looming demise in Americas history was soon to come in the form of a great depression. Even before this time jobs were scarce because of the ending of the war. Poor people needed money and a easy way to get it was to join gang groups. These groups would set up base in large cities doing illegal sales of drugs and robbing of banks. During the 20s the crime rate was very high and some of the most famous criminals of all time arouse during this era.

Prohibition was on of the major causes for the spike in gangs and crime rate during the 1920s. The U.S government banned the consumption and brewing of alcohol during the 1920s in hope that this would reduce the rate of crime. It had the direct oppisite effect instead boosting crime of what was called bootlegging where gangs would illegal make alcholoic drinks and then sell them to secret pubs and salons.

One of the greatest gangsters of all time was Al Capone. Al joined a friend name Torrio's mob who Torrio was a part of in Chicago. The mob name was Colosimo Mob. When the leader of that mob died after a violent fight and Torrio took over with Al as his right hand man. Their mob was greatly involved in racketing or bootlegging alcohol. The fought for control of areas in Chicago to sell their Alcohol. Torrio was severly wounded in a assination attempt so he gave up leadership to Al. Al rouse the gang up to great power with bloody assaults and destruction of rival gangs. He is most famous for the Valentine Day Massacre. This event was when Al's gang members dressed as cops did a drive by on seven rival gang members spraying them down in a bloody murder. Al at the time was in Florida but was called in for a court date that was prosponed do to a illness. Investigation of his wereabouts proved that he was not actually sick. During his court date he was not found guilty but walked out and was charged with contempt that was payed off quickly. In 1929 he was charged with carrying a deadly weapon and was given a year sentenced to nine months in jail. The FBI was gathering a case on Al for tax evasion. When they confronted him with it he at first plead guilty in hope of striking a deal for 2 years but the judge was not having any of it so he changed it to not guilty. He was found guilty and spent 11 years in jail where he obtained syphilis and after leaving jail went straight to a hospital his mobs days over.

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Citations

Pictures-

http://www.eatmedaily.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/bootleggers.jpg

http://www.glogster.com/media/1/4/32/34/4323492.jpg

Facts-

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/history/famous-cases/al-capone

http://www.thefinertimes.com/20th-Century-Crime/organised-crime-in-the-1920s.html

Videos-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3KplEGXwnE

Caleb Archer