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Gangs of the 20's, 30's, and Today
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1) Describe the gangs of the 1920's. Why did they come about? What were they selling? What were the weapons they used? Where were they located? Gangs had already been in existence but in different forms. Originally, they were mostly bands of cowboy outlaws that were known for robbing banks and trains. These gangs were located out in the “wild west”, not in the urban cities, such as New York and Chicago, as the new, modernized gangs were now mainly located. The Prohibition (Eighteenth) Amendment, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors was the main reason that the gangs of the “20's” came about. It brought into being a new kind of criminal—the bootlegger. Prohibition ended the legal sale of liquor and thereby created a demand for an illicit supply. The young men who became involved in these groups were against the idea of alcohol being made illegal. So, the men banded together into gangs and decided to take the unlawful way around the whole ordeal and began their own bootlegging businesses. They also started up their own speakeasies. The Prohibition Amendment was supposed to decrease the violence and alcohol related diseases and deaths, however, the rise of violence and deaths increased by extreme numbers int the thirteen years of its existence. Alcohol was the main issue of gangsters in the 1920's but opium drugs and marijuana were also being sold or exchanged. Gangs involved themselves in other illegal areas as well. Gambling rackets, prostitution, labor racketeering, loan-sharking, and extortion are just some of the other operations that occupied their time. To defend themselves against the police and other intruding gangs they outfitted themselves with pretty tough weapons. The Tommy machine gun and the Assault Rifle were just a couple of dangerous weapons they used. 2) What were the characteristics of the gang members? What were their ages? Their attitudes towards killing people? The gang bosses? Most of these men were older teenagers or men in their twenties. Al Capone started in the “gang” business when he was about 26 years old. Johnny Torrio became the leader of the James Street Boys gang and allied them with the Five Points Gang in 1904 when he was 22 years old. Albert Anastasia joined Giuseppe Masseria's gang when he was only 18. These young men were really good at handing out violence. They had no problem with taking other men’s lives. To me, the reasons for these killings (alcohol and drugs) were not worth killing someone over. It just doesn’t make sense. It amazes me at how easily and violently they killed one another back then. Gang bosses were held in high esteem. They were also the most sought after by the police and other gangs. The gangs wanted to hit the gang bosses because if they did then they would have hit the center, the heart of the gang. Normally the gang boss was the person who established the gang or who had been given the position by the founder. They were the main leader and that’s why they were so sought after. 3)What role did the police and government play in the 1920's? How did the average person view the gangs/gangsters/bosses? The police and government didn’t play much of a role in the 1920's because at this time the police officers were easily able to be bribed and therefore were willing to stay out of the gang affairs. Most men were against prohibition and therefore supported what the gangsters were doing. They were making it possible for the police officers to obtain the alcohol they needed. Over time, government officials began to see that the citizens as a majority did not agree and like the Prohibition Amendment that was established.
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