The 1920s brought changes to life in the USA.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2021). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Sacco and Vanzetti were two Italian Americans.
2. [1] In 1920 they were arrested.
3. [1] They were arrested on suspicion of armed robbery and murder.
4. [1] They were anarchists.
5. [1] The trial became less of a trial for murder, more a trial of their radical ideas.
6. [1] It was a highly publicised case.
7. [1] The case against them was weak.
8. [1] The prosecution relied on racist slurs about their origins and fear about their radical politics.
9. [1] The two were found guilty and sentenced to death.
10. [1] There were six years of legal appeals.
11. [1] They were executed in 1927.
12. [1] Many people believed they were not given a fair trial.
13. [1] Many thought they were the victims of the trial judge's prejudices against foreigners and radical politics.
14. [1] The economic boom encouraged a change of lifestyle.
15. [1] Jazz became the new popular music.
16. [1] Women changed their look and became more independent.
17. [1] Traditions such as having a chaperone were abandoned.
18. [1] Many people bought cars and travelled for the first time.
19. [1] There was more leisure time for pastimes such as the cinema and music clubs.
20. [1] Some drank illegally in speakeasies.
21. [1] Some said the 1920s started with a roar and ended with a crash.
22. [1] People took up noisy hobbies.
23. [4-5] They were known as the 'Roaring Twenties' because these years were often associated with radical change in society and outrageous behaviour from some sections of society. Some women broke free from traditions and wore short dresses, short hairstyles, and took up smoking and drinking in speakeasies. Many spent time in the new nightclubs where jazz quickly became very popular.
24. [1] Many urban Americans refused to obey the law on alcohol.
25. [1] Many made their own alcohol, called 'moonshine'.
26. [1] The speakeasies were well supplied by bootleggers.
27. [1] Two thirds of the illegal whisky came from Canada.
28. [1] Rum was smuggled from the West Indies.
29. [1] The border between the USA and Canada was almost impossible to patrol.
30. [1] Organised gangs fought to control the manufacture and sale of alcohol.
31. [1] Organised gangs bribed policemen, enforcement agents, judges and juries.
32. [1] Many people disliked Prohibition.
33. [7-9] The main reason for the failure of Prohibition was that millions of Americans, especially in urban areas, were simply not prepared to obey this law. Some made their own liquor at home, known as moonshine, while rich households imported wine and spirits illegally. By 1925, there were more speakeasies in American cities than there had been saloons in 1919.
34. [7-9] One reason Prohibition failed was that it was not policed properly. The government appointed several thousand enforcement agents, but this was not enough and they were poorly paid. The networks which ran the illegal liquor business were complex and there were not enough Prohibition agents to stop them. The agents were often open to threats and bribes made by criminal gangs. State officials, judges, senior police officers and jury members were often bought off with bribes. Almost 10% of Prohibition agents were fired for taking bribes.