Why was crime able to grow so much in the 1920's and how did this affect society?

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  • Created by: Lily
  • Created on: 10-05-13 11:55

Why was crime able to grow so much in the 1920's and how did this affect society?

Causes

  • The development of new technology, e.g the uprising of the Motor Car which was affordable to all
  • After WWI Thompson sub-machine guns were avaliable to the general public
  • Expansion of media e.g newspapers and radios
  • St Valentines Massacre
  • Development of the film industry
  • The introduction of Prohibiton

Effects

  • Due to cars more crimes could occur across state lines as criminals could easily evade the police and then start afresh across state boundaries
  • Guns meant that criminals could outgun police, giving them power
  • Media helped create crimes into national news. Criminals became national celebritites as the public had a lack of faith in institutions. Criminals were worshipped and adored e.g Al Capone became the "working class hero" and was invited to attend ball games etc
  • The film industry glamourised and romanticised the life of a criminal, making the criminal lifestyle desirable
  • Prohibiton helped the rise of bootleggers who soon became multi-millionaires. Due to its controversy many people were against Prohibiton, so they willingly bought illegal alcohol. As Prohibition agents were so badly paid, many of them accepetd bribes causing a corrupt Government.

Overall summary

Overall the biggest influence on crime was Prohibiton. Prohibition alllowed a bigger market for organised crime and also opened up the game to many ordinary people. Bootlegging became huge and criminals were making masses more money than the agents causing resentment and ultimatley corruption. Ordinary people idolised the criminals and their stance as "heroes" caused a blurred line between right and wrong. However, perhaps Prohibtion was only allowed to grow so big because the government and the federal officers failed in their duties due an overall lack of power.

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