Final answer:
The federal government's aggressive policies related to the prosecution and punishment of drug offenders in the 1980s led to mass incarceration and disproportionately affected Black and Hispanic people.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the 1980s, the federal government implemented aggressive policies related to the prosecution and punishment of drug offenders, commonly referred to as the "war on drugs." These policies included harsher sentencing, removal of judges' discretion, and increased funding for law enforcement. The crack-cocaine punishment disparity and racial profiling disproportionately affected Black and Hispanic people. These policies resulted in mass incarceration and a cycle of poverty.