Organized+Crime

The banning of alcohol in the prohibition of the 1920's may have made it illegal to drink but it did not stop people for indulging in it. The demand for alcohol peaked and the gangsters of the 1920's jumped at the opportunity. People were willing to buy alcohol for high prices and the illegal action of bootlegging was greatly tolerated by American citizens. The Gangsters participated not only in bootlegging but also prostitution, gambling, and racketeering. Private socials were held where alcohol would be served. Money was flowing among the gangsters and greed began to take over. The field grew to be more demoralizing work. Speakeasies were taverns filled with prostitution, gambling and of course drinking. Though organized crime was highly profitable it was also extremely risky. Some of the headlining Gangsters of the time were: Al "Scarface" CaponeBonny and ClydeJohn Dillinger

Images of the Gangsterism of the time: media type="custom" key="5872809"

media type="youtube" key="s-r2Zr-YkeA" height="385" width="480" The significant increase in crime created an interesting social dynamic of the time. Citizens opinions of the organized criminals seemed to be primarily tolerant of the crimes. Some gangsters were even thought of heroically. Organized Crime was something that surrounded the citizens of the 1920s and played a large part in the social lifestyle of the American citizens.

Organized Crime Statistics

Police funding increased 11.4 million Arrests for prohibition violations increased 102+ % Arrests for drunkenness and disorderly conduct increased 41% Arrests of drunken drivers increased 81% Thefts and burglaries increased 9% Homicides, Assault and battery increased 13% Number of federal convicts increased 561% Federal prison population increased 366% Total Federal Expenditures on Penal Institutes increased 1,000% Most of the men involved were young immigrants. By late 1920's more than 1 million gallons of bootleg liquor had been illegally brought to the US.

Katy Emerson, Rachel Brennan, Allie Bell, Haleigh Bonney

Work Cited: http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1596.html http://www.freeessays.cc/db/2/aky126.shtml http://law.jrank.org/pages/11944/Organized-Crime-American-Mafia.html IMAGES: http://kjzz.org/news/arizona/archives/200906/johndillinger/johndillinger.jpg http://static.squidoo.com/resize/squidoo_images/-1/draft_lens1980931module9470086photo_1210425430Bonnie_and_Clyde_ http://www.wikitree.com/photo.php/4/4e/Al_Capone-2.jpg