How Did Al Capone Rise To Power

Al Capone is arguably one of the most notorious and popular gangsters in American crime history. However, Capone is more than the classical gangster stereotype he is so often associated with. Capone was an intelligent criminal that used the environment of America at the time in order to rise to the peak of leadership and power amongst his community of Chicago. Capone’s criminal activities during his reign made impacts on American culture and the United State’s legal system that have lasted to this day.

When we think of the mafia and gangs, one name comes to mind, Al Capone. Al Capone, also known as Scarface, was an infamous mafia leader who was active in Chicago during the Prohibition era. Having committed numerous criminal deeds and being the man behind countless murders, Capone was finally arrested for tax evasion . Now, you might ask, “How was he able to commit all these violent deeds without being imprisoned?” Well, we first have to go to the beginning of Capone’s life.

Al Capone, who was born in New York in 1899, was one of the most prominent gangsters in America in the 1920s. He was the son of Italian immigrants, and after leaving school at a young age, became a small-time criminal. Known as ‘Scarface,’ he had links to the leader of the Five Points Gang, Johnny Torrio, and moved to Chicago in 1920, where he gradually rose through the ranks as a partner in saloons, gambling and brothels. They moved their operations to Illinois after an offer to work with Jim Colosimo, a central figure in Chicago’s brothel business. Gang rivalry heated up after a dispute between Torrio and Colosimo over whether to begin in the bootlegging business, and in 1920, Colosimo was murdered allegedly by Al Capone. After this, Torrio’s criminal empire expanded massively throughout Chicago, before leaving in 1925 and handing over operations to Capone. After taking over, Capone expanded operations even further, and was able to control Chicago’s Mayor, ‘Big Bill’ Thompson and fix his elections. A local newspaper from the time reported

Crime is a timeless component of society. For as long as humans have existed among each other, crime has coincided. Throughout time, crime has taken many different forms, some much more subtle than others. Alphonse Capone, a first generation American-Italian born in Brooklyn, would dramatically redefine the nature of criminality. Al Capone was a notorious Chicago mob boss who played a crucial role in the Chicago Outfit as well as the bootlegging industry. Throughout his rise to power in the Chicago, Capone took part in many nefarious dealings that culminated in the creation of a undisputed “King of Crime” until his death in 1947. However, Capone is a timeless figure, his impact on Chicago and influence he’s had on the world of crime, continues to live on.

Al “Scarface” Capone a man of mystery and most notorious gangsters in american history. Born in 1899 in Brooklyn, New York, too poor immigrant parents. 1920 Capone had a huge bootlegging operation during prohibition. Using gambling and prostitution. Responsible of many brutal deaths of rival gangsters, But the one he is known for was the Valentine’s day massacre.

In 1927 the Supreme Court ruled that illegal money is taxable giving the government a strong case of income-tax evasion. When Capone went to trial he bribed and intimidated the jury, but at the final moment the jury was switched to a new one and on June 5, 1931 Capone was convicted of 22 counts of income tax evasion (History.com). He was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Two years of his prison sentence was served an an a prison in Atlanta, but he was caught using bribery, and he was sent to the notorious Alcatraz

Today in the world there are several men and women who once thought they had everything going for them. They had the money, the fame, and the fortune. Of course being caught up in the moment means no worry, no stress, and no problems. However, that doesn’t work out for everyone. One of those people are Alphonse Gabriel Capone or as you may know Al Capone.

Al Capone was a highly known gangster in the 1920s Alphonse Capone born in Brooklyn, New York to a poor US immigrant couple, Gabriele and Teresina Capone, seeking a better opportunity for their then big family of eight children. He was known for running many lucrative illegal businesses that included alcohol bootlegging, gambling, prostitution, and protection. Al Capone was so notorious that he would murder those who got in his way. With little prosecution of his actions, Al Capone believed his self to being unstoppable. Al Capone, being raised as a kid in poverty learned hands on how to organize crime and became the biggest force in organized crime.

One of the most notorious gangsters/bootlegger in American history was Al Capone. Iorizzo explains how Al Capone got his infamous name “Scarface.” The incident occurred one night when he insulted a patron’s sister at the bar he worked at. A customer unhappy with Al Capone’s remark used a bottle opener to leave Al Capone with three scars on his face. As Al Capone grew older, he was accused of many crimes including murder. No evidence was ever found or any witnesses that could ever tie them to accuse Al Capone of murder. One case was the death of Bill McSwiggin however, Al Capone stated that he nothing to do with the crime. Another piece of history from Al Capone was The St. Valentine’s Day massacre in which Al Capone ordered multiple hits on gang members, providing a serious threat to civilian safety in Chicago.

Al Capone was for a time, an Underboss, and eventually the Boss of the Chicago crime outfit, which had criminal activity for bootlegging. Al Capone was a very under the radar man when it came to making money and keeping it his. Jay Gatsby made the claim that he inherited it from his family, however we know that cannot be true. Al Capone secured his money by never even having a bank account, nor even registering property in his name. Al Capone was the boss of the Chicago outfit from 1925-1931, which during that time, bootlegging was popular and was very easy money.

wise when it came to living on the streets of New York. He had a clever

Al Capone was strained when he was young. In 1893 Capone’s parents, Gabriel and Teresa moved from Naples to Brooklyn in hopes of a better life for them and their children, by the 1890s, 50,000 Italians were relocating to the US yearly. At the time of Gabriele and Teresa coming, the couple had two young boys and Teresa was pregnant with their

On March 31, 1924 they put their plan into action, but it ended in the death of Al’s brother Frank. After Frank’s death in 1925, Torrio was wounded in an assassination attempt, and he fled Chicago to return to Italy. Only twenty-six-years-old, Capone was left in charge of the whole operation. He moved the business back to Chicago and began to live a luxurious new life. It was said Capone earned $100 million a year.

Even though many recognize Al Capone as a nuisance, he did well for the people in the community. Better known as Scarface he left a huge impact on the world after he died. The ones who showed respect got respect and the ones who didn’t got what he thought they deserved. Capone wrecked havoc in Chicago, Brooklyn and Florida. He was the reason for the collapse of the law and order in the United States during the early 1900s. Capone’s rise in the gang world was tremendous.

Once in Chicago Capone became close friends with Torrio, and became his right hand man. One day while Torrio was out with his wife he was ambushed, and shot many times, barley living. Torrio recovered and he gave full control of the Chicago Outfit to Capone (24). Capone decided to get a better grip on the bootlegging business, and once he did he branched out into Prostitution, gambling, labor racketeering, and even into milk distribution as a cover up (28). In1923 William Hale Thompson, or “Big Bill”, a very lenient mayor when it came to gang matters, was replaced with a mayor who promised to clean up the city of crime. During the reform of business Capone moved to Cicero (28). Capone saw the move as an opportunity to remake his reputation, so while he was in Cicero Capone sponsored free soup kitchens, tipped waiters with $100 bills, and even for surgery for a bystander who was injured in a gang shot out. “In Cicero Capone ended up as a hero to many.”(29) Four years later “Big Bill” was reelected into office and Capone quickly shifted his headquarters back into Chicago (29). Once back in Chicago, Capone new reputation