The Roaring Twenties: Separating Fact from Fiction

If someone asked you to tell them what happened during the 1920’s, what would you say? I will answer that for you. You would probably say, “Alcohol was illegal, but everyone still drank it, and there were crazy clubs and gangs and everyone got rich. Oh, and the stock market crashed so we went into the Great Depression!” You would be right, but there was so much more than that. Do you know why alcohol became illegal? Or why there was rampant gang activity? Did you know sales were as bad for farmers in the ‘20s as they were during the Great Depression? Unless you have an extensive knowledge of this decade, you are probably unable to answer these questions. When I presented myself with these questions, I found that I was deeply interested in finding the answers. Because of this curiosity, I chose to research “The Roaring Twenties” and what really happened during this rambunctious, rebellious period in America.

Not only did I want to learn more about what exactly Prohibition was, but what effects it had on culture and life in America. If you know anything about speakeasies and the illegal sales and production of alcohol, commonly known as “bootlegging,” you should know that they were a direct product of Prohibition and the 18th Amendment. As bootlegging increased, so did the crime rate across the country. The illegal sales, production, and distribution all were accomplished by someone, so of course we look at the gangs and mobsters of the 1920’s. One of the most well known mobsters was Al Capone. Although he was a very influential leader in the gang world, he was not the only one. I want to learn more about all the big players in the crime world during this time, including Capone.

There are many misconceptions about what actually happened throughout crime syndicates in America as well as other events during the 1920’s. For example, the prosperity and wealth that accumulated during this decade realistically only affected those in urban areas with steady employment. The “Roaring Twenties” was not so roaring for farmers and the lower class population of America. I want to look into more misconceptions like these and separate the myths from the actual facts.

It is obvious that I have a lot to research and investigate regarding the 1920’s, but I couldn’t be more excited to see what I can find about this mesmerizing time in America.   

 ~Erin K.