Racism & Prohibition
Although there were not many worries or problems in the twenties, there were a few regarding racism. In 1915, the second wave of the Ku Klux Klan, (KKK) started up again. This group persecuted African Americans, gaining their membership mostly from the south. This group continually attacked blacks, Jews, and members from the Catholic Church. Churches were burnt and whites that associated with blacks were even murdered. The Ku Klux Klan believes in having a country of “100% Americanism.” In 1925, the Klan had around 5 million members. Lynchings, or illegal hangings, also took a place as part of the racism in the twenties. Whites in the twenties would hang African American to keep then in “their place,” or out of their territory.
Prohibition was a big issue throughout the entire twenties. On January 16, 1920, the 18th Amendment was signed; which outlawed the sale, manufacture, and transportation of any kind of alcohol. This prohibited all sales and manufacture of alcohol. Prohibition took place because it was causing too many problems. They said this was the cause of crime and murder. They also said in would stop men from spending all their families’ income on alcohol. There were however some loopholes to the prohibition, such as being able to have legal alcohol if prescribed by a doctor. There were Bootleggers during prohibition, which was the act of making and smuggling illegal alcohol. Al Capone was a gangster in the twenties. He controlled crimes in Chicago. He put together a $60 million empire that was based on bootlegging and gambling. Prohibition ended in 1933 when there was the 21st Amendment, this amendment repealed the 18th Amendment.
Although there were not many worries or problems in the twenties, there were a few regarding racism. In 1915, the second wave of the Ku Klux Klan, (KKK) started up again. This group persecuted African Americans, gaining their membership mostly from the south. This group continually attacked blacks, Jews, and members from the Catholic Church. Churches were burnt and whites that associated with blacks were even murdered. The Ku Klux Klan believes in having a country of “100% Americanism.” In 1925, the Klan had around 5 million members. Lynchings, or illegal hangings, also took a place as part of the racism in the twenties. Whites in the twenties would hang African American to keep then in “their place,” or out of their territory.
Prohibition was a big issue throughout the entire twenties. On January 16, 1920, the 18th Amendment was signed; which outlawed the sale, manufacture, and transportation of any kind of alcohol. This prohibited all sales and manufacture of alcohol. Prohibition took place because it was causing too many problems. They said this was the cause of crime and murder. They also said in would stop men from spending all their families’ income on alcohol. There were however some loopholes to the prohibition, such as being able to have legal alcohol if prescribed by a doctor. There were Bootleggers during prohibition, which was the act of making and smuggling illegal alcohol. Al Capone was a gangster in the twenties. He controlled crimes in Chicago. He put together a $60 million empire that was based on bootlegging and gambling. Prohibition ended in 1933 when there was the 21st Amendment, this amendment repealed the 18th Amendment.