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Gangs of the 20's, 30's, and Today

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 w...

Posted by: Veronica Gardner

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