Crime+in+the+1920s

= = = = =Al Capone A.K.A. Scarface=

One of the main gangsters of this era was Al Capone. He grew up in Chicago and was born on January 17, 1899. As a kid he was part of the Brooklyn Rippers, and Forty Thieves Juniors. He dropped out in the sixth grade to be a clerk, pinboy, and a cutter in between scams. He later joined Five Points Gang as a bouncer and bartender becoming an influential lieutenant in this mob. He got the nickname "Scarface" from his facial scars after getting attacked by a brother of a patron. In 1925, Capone became the “ Boss” when Torrio, the leader of the gang, surrendered control and retired. Capone became reluctant against the eighteenth amendment by selling alcohol. This crime along with many caused him to serve over twenty years in Alcatraz [|crime]11969012401196999491chases

[|Al Capone] media type="youtube" key="ByEMTiExKWs&rel=1" height="355" width="425"

=The Sacco and Vanzetti Case (1927)=

On April 15, 1920, two Italian immigrants, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, were accused and later electrocuted for robbing and killing a guard named Alessandro Berardelli and a paymaster Frederick A. Parmenter. Many people around the world felt they were not given a fair trial and were sentenced and prosecuted based on prejudice against Italian immigrants. Fifty years later their names were cleared after Michael Dukakis, governor of Massachusetts acknowledged their unfair trial. [|Sacco and Vanzetti] 1196884741
 * [[image:http://library.thinkquest.org/C005846/categories/worldnews/photo/saccol.gif width="50" height="72" link="http://library.thinkquest.org/C005846/categories/worldnews/photo/sacco.htm"]] || [[image:http://library.thinkquest.org/C005846/categories/worldnews/photo/vanzettil.gif width="48" height="72" link="http://library.thinkquest.org/C005846/categories/worldnews/photo/vanzetti.htm"]] || [[image:http://library.thinkquest.org/C005846/categories/worldnews/photo/masksl.gif width="79" height="72" link="http://library.thinkquest.org/C005846/categories/worldnews/photo/masks.htm"]] || [[image:http://library.thinkquest.org/C005846/categories/worldnews/photo/sacco1l.gif width="68" height="72" link="http://library.thinkquest.org/C005846/categories/worldnews/photo/sacco1.htm"]] || [[image:http://library.thinkquest.org/C005846/categories/worldnews/photo/vanzetti1l.gif width="51" height="72" link="http://library.thinkquest.org/C005846/categories/worldnews/photo/vanzetti1.htm"]] ||

=The Gangster Weapon= Probably the most well known weapon of the 1920's crime era is the 1921 model of the Thompson machine gun. Also known as the "Tommy Gun" it was the first sub machine mass produced in America. Though it wasnt cheap, costing $225, it was the perfect weapon for early crime lords. The "Tommy Gun" offered an unheard of 900 rounds per minute, allowing the "Mob" to "Make offers that you couldn't refuse" (The Godfather)

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=The St. Valentine's Day Massacre=

On a cold February night in North Chicago one of the most brutal mob slayings took place. Al "Scarface" Capone was arguably the most notorious gangster and bootlegger at the time. His rival, George "Bugs" Moran was looking to change that. The plan was to get a loyal bootlegger of Capone to lure Moran and his gang to an abandoned warehouse under the impression they were going to be getting smuggled whiskey at a price that was very reasonable and almost unheard of. Capone decided to distance himself from the assassinations and return to his home in Miami. As Moran was going to meet his gang in the warehouse a police car rolled in. Moran and his drivers saw the police car and decided to leave the scene. As the gangsters were confronted in the warehouse by the hit men disguised by policemen, they were told to line up against the wall. Moran's gang figured it was a routine bust until the hit men unleashed a countless number of bullets with Thompson machine guns. Some of the executioners dressed as gang members and the rest carried them out to the police wagon just in case anyone was watching. "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" gave Capone nationwide notoriety. Later, George "Bugs" Moran was quoted saying, "Only Capone kills like that."[|St. Valentine's Day Massacre]. Adam Windsor



=Gamblers and scandals of the 1920's=

Baseball wasn't so much invented as it was developed. The concept came from England and people like Abner Doubleday developed the ideas. Baseball's popularity began to rise and by the turn of the century it became a legitimate sport. 1919 was the year that set many attendance records in ballparks. The World Series became one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year. With all that money flowing, some gamblers decided they could make a very reasonable profit by trying ti fix the World Series. Two gamblers known for being key parts in the fixing, were William Thomas "Sleepy Bill" Burns and Billy Maharg. "Sleepy Bill" was a former pitcher in the major leagues so he had the connections to the players and Maharg was a big time gambler. They approached some of the White Sox players and the fixing began. By that time many people knew of the fixing and tried to make a buck off of it. With many people knowing of the fixing, it wasn't long until the scandal was revealed. Fans were crushed upon hearing of the scandal and this was a major blow to the game of baseball. This hurt baseball for years to come and the gambling of major events and fixing did not stop. Seven of the eight players confessed of knowing and taking part in the fixing but the one player who never confessed was "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. A major star at the time never confessed to the fixing of the World Series. "Shoeless" Joe Jackson was never inducted into the Hall of Fame, but many people argue how he was wrongly convicted and should be inducted. After the fixing gambling became a regular thing for individuals to make quick and lucky money.[|Black Sox Scandal]. Adam Windsor

=The Speakeasies=



During Prohibition in the United States from 1920 to the mid 1930s the speakeasy was established. A speakeasy was a place for selling and drinking alcoholic beverages even though it was against the law. These establishments were very popular and quite elaborate. They offered food, live bands, and floor shows. Speakeasies were often operated by those involved in organized crime. Many were raided by the police forces in the area and by the United States Federal Government, but many operators would bribe the police to leave them alone or give them warnings of any planned raids. This worked because police corruption was running rampant in those times.[|speakeasy] Kara Meehan

[|A speakeasy]



= = =How This All Relates to //The Great Gatsby//=

In //The Great Gatsby// Mr. Gatsby is suspected of running several "drug stores" which are really fronts for the selling of illegal alcohol. Which in the '20s was a big problem for the police and a real business for smugglers. As you just read speakeasies were a common front for alcohol sales, usually one would need a pass word to get in to a speakeasy. In the Great Gatsby Gatsby throws several very elaborate parties where he has alcohol in the drinks, this could be an example of a type of speakeasy.1196996084