| In
the first three decades of the 20th century, the United States of America established
itself as the most powerful nation in the world. It
experienced a huge growth in population, industry and wealth, but this boom was
not without its problems. Between 1900 and 1920, over
14 million Europeans emigrated to America believing they would have a better life. Most
recent immigrants lived with people of their own race or nationality in poor city
districts called ghettos. During this period, some
white people in the southern states reacted against these immigrants and violently
attacked blacks, Catholics and Jews. This organization,
known as the Ku Klux Klan became more powerful than the law in many regions. The
1920s were known as the Jazz Age, because of the new music and dances, which became
popular. In 1920, the government forbade the drinking
of alcohol, believing it would lead to less crime. In
fact, it resulted in more crime with criminals, known as gangsters, making a lot
of money by buying and selling alcohol. Industrial
and economic growth continued in the 1920s and the dollar became the strongest
currency in the world. However, all this changed in
1929 when America's stock market collapsed and the country went into depression. | 
