Criminal Activities of the Roaring Twenties - 1119 Words

Criminal activities of the Roaring Twenties The Roaring Twenties were aptly named: they were indeed roaring with music and dance, but also with gangsters and criminals. The Great Depression having affected everybody, all were in need of money and ready to do whatever it took to get some. This is why the Roaring Twenties were a decade of bootlegging, bank robbing, and corruption. The first important criminal industry of the 1920s was bootlegging. Bootlegging consisted in illegally supplying or producing liquor. When the prohibition was enforced during the winter of 1920, its original goal was to lower crime and corruption, reduce social problems, lower taxes needed to support prisons and poorhouses, and improve health and hygiene in†¦show more content†¦No club played better in 1919, but few were paid so poorly. Many knowledgeable observers believe that it was [White Sox president Charles] Comiskeys stinginess that is largely to blame for the Black Sox scandal: if Comiskey ha d not grossly underpaid his players and treated them so unfairly, they would never have agreed to throw the Series (www.chicagohs.org). Another scandal that took place in those years was the Teapot Dome scandal in 1922, which was when the Secretary of Interior, Albert B. Fall, leased federal oil reserves to business associates that were bribing him. After President Harding had transferred supervision of the naval oil reserve lands from the navy to the Department of the Interior in 1921, Fall secretly granted to Henry F. Sinclair of the Mammoth Oil Company exclusive rights to the Teapot Dome reserves. He granted similar rights to Edward L. Doheny. [†¦] In return for the leases, Fall received large cash gifts and no-interest loans (www.britannica.com). The Teapot Dome scandal was one of many that took place while Harding was president. It seemed that quite a number of his allies were exploiting their power and position for personal gain. For example, Thomas W. Miller, head of the Office of Alien Property, was put on trial, and convicted of accepting bribes (http://en.wikipedia.org). In addition, Hardings Attorney General Harry M. Daugherty resigned in 1924 when he was accused ofShow MoreRelatedEra of Prohibition in THe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1473 Words   |  6 PagesEra of Prohibition represented the Roaring Twenties which F. Scott Fitzgerald vividly portrayed in The Great Gatsby. Alcoholic beverages were illegal in the Roaring Twenties, which caused many Americans to develop hidden bars or speakeasies to drink their alcoholic beverages. The number of speakeasies increased tremendously when the Prohibition Act was established. The high number of speakeasies caused organized activity to increase during the Roaring Twenties. â€Å"Speakeasies for illicit drinkingRead 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 MoreEvents of The Roaring Twenties985 Words   |  4 PagesThe Roaring Twenties were a time of new behaviors, attitudes, and freedoms which were all presented during the Prohibition. The Roaring Twenties were an era of social, political, and dramatic change. During this age, freedoms were expanded yet, in some cases, they were diminished. Prohibition was an enormous part of this era. Prohibition was ratified as the 18th Amendment in 1919, banning the manufacture and sale of alcohol. The three main contributions from Prohibition were: bootlegging, organizedRead MoreOrganized Crime During the Roaring Twenties1145 Words   |  5 PagesThe 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 many street gangs, all with one man at its helmRead MoreThe Street Empire916 Words   |  4 Pages The United States has had its share of economic prosperity, but none as thriving as the 1920s era, labeled the â€Å"Roaring Twenties†. The 1920s era saw great political and social change to the United States society. The US economy blossomed, and the nations total wealth more than doubled in the 1920s era. As a result of this social and political change as well as the success of the economy, transformed many Americans into a consumer society. The great economic success during the time period alsoRead MoreLiterature And Art : The Sun Also Rises, The Great Gatsby, And Night1502 Words   |  7 Pagesfill the time they have with escapist activities, such as drinking, and dancing. Even though they spend most of time partying in a fiesta, their lives remain unfulfilled. For example, when Brett said that she and Jake could have had a wonderful time together, Jake say â€Å"Yes, isn’t it pretty to think so?† meaning that even if that happen, their lives will still be unfulfilled. The second piece of literature I will talk about take place in The Roaring Twenties. It was an era in the 1920s when the worldRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1378 Words   |  6 Pages† This American Classic, written in 1925 takes place in New York during The Roaring 20’s. The novel revolves around this interesting character named Jay Gatsby. He is from North Dakota, and around 30 years old. Born poor, motivated him to do anything to acquire his longtime dream to become wealthy. Apart from that, he was also motivated to reacquire Daisy’s love. Gatsby acquires his wealth by performing illegal activities to impress, and win Daisy back. The Great Gatsby is an example of the prototypicalRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1271 Words   |  6 Pagesand does not think about the next one. We know that Nick himself is all too aware about the infinite hope of the American Dream but also knows the corruption of the American promise of equality for all men. The 1920s, also referred to as the Roaring Twenties, is characterized by economic prosperity, leisure and tremendous social, artistic, and cultural dynamism as well as technological advances, consumerism and major shifts toward modern values. The Great Gatsby gave us a glimpse of the urban cultureRead MoreThe Memorable Periold of the 1920s in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1168 Words   |  5 Pagesoccurring. Throughout the 1920s, commonly referred to as the â€Å"Roaring Twenties†, were the Women’s Rights Movement, Prohibition, and The Great War, among other events. Fitzgerald grew up during this era, which he described in his novel The Great Gatsby as a time when much sinfulness and immorality was occurring. Excessive drinking, extravagant parties, organized crime, and gambling were all major social issues throughout the â€Å"Roaring Twenties.† Fitzgerald struggled with alcoholism (Baughman, et al.),Read MoreHow did the Prohibition Change the United S tates of America (USA)? And why was it a failure?1490 Words   |  6 Pageshowever this may have been due to the fact that between 1880 and the beginning World War One in 1914 many states had adopted...state wide Prohibition. Before Prohibition occurred nationwide, the economic boom of the 1920s (also known as the Roaring Twenties) had not yet taken place, therefore the changes in attitude amongst the people of the United states were not yet established, consequently pre - prohibition years were times of less social freedom, more conservatism and some would argue higher