The 1930s was a time period of economic recession, war, and agricultural disaster. The 1930s was a also a period of high crime. The murder rate was at 9.7, the highest in American history and burglaries were also at an all time high (“Crime 1920-1940”). The United States crime rate spiked in the 1930s mostly due to Prohibition, and led to the rise of the Mafia and other famous gangsters because of lack of respect towards law enforcement and the government, and triggered rise of the FBI (“Crime 1920-1940”).
Prohibition played a major factor to crime in the 1930s. Prohibition was put into effect in 1920 through the Eighteenth Amendment, decreased respect for the government, and encouraged bootleggers (“Crime 1920-1940”). Bootleggers illegally smuggled alcohol to the public, became wealthy, and became public cult heroes during the Great Depression (“Gangsters During the Depression”). Prohibition eventually ends in 1933 through the Twenty First Amendment due to the negative impact on crime and alcoholism. Respect for the government is restored and the crime rate drops soon after Prohibition ends (“Prohibition”).
The Mafia rose to power during the 1930s and Prohibition (“The Rise of the FBI”). The Mafia was mostly prominent in cities …show more content…
The most infamous gangster, Al Capone, was born in 1899 in Brooklyn, New York to poor Italian immigrant parents. Capone was responsible for many brutal acts of violence, mainly against other gangsters. The St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929 was Capone’s most famous act of violence. He was never convicted for his violent crimes, but he eventually was brought to justice for income-tax evasion. After six-and-a-half years he was released. Al Capone later died in 1947 in Miami, Florida (“Al
Prohibition played a major factor to crime in the 1930s. Prohibition was put into effect in 1920 through the Eighteenth Amendment, decreased respect for the government, and encouraged bootleggers (“Crime 1920-1940”). Bootleggers illegally smuggled alcohol to the public, became wealthy, and became public cult heroes during the Great Depression (“Gangsters During the Depression”). Prohibition eventually ends in 1933 through the Twenty First Amendment due to the negative impact on crime and alcoholism. Respect for the government is restored and the crime rate drops soon after Prohibition ends (“Prohibition”).
The Mafia rose to power during the 1930s and Prohibition (“The Rise of the FBI”). The Mafia was mostly prominent in cities …show more content…
The most infamous gangster, Al Capone, was born in 1899 in Brooklyn, New York to poor Italian immigrant parents. Capone was responsible for many brutal acts of violence, mainly against other gangsters. The St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929 was Capone’s most famous act of violence. He was never convicted for his violent crimes, but he eventually was brought to justice for income-tax evasion. After six-and-a-half years he was released. Al Capone later died in 1947 in Miami, Florida (“Al