Causes Of Organized Crime In The 1920's

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.

During the period of prohibition, from 1920 to 1933, the sale, manufacture and transportation of alcohol was made illegal, through the Volstead act of 1919, leading to the first and only time an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was repealed. Throughout this time in American history gangsters were common and were constantly increasing in every city but one in particular stood out from all the others making a significant impact on American history. Scarface, Alphonse Capone or more commonly known as Al Capone; who was the most infamous gangster, taking advantage of the era of Prohibition, ran an organized crime association in Chicago during the 1920s. He was responsible for over 500 murders; he had 700 men under his control and earned $60 million a year for bootlegging. Capone, who was glamorised in media and shown as charitable to the helpless was also controlling and violent and became an iconic figure of the successful American gangster who insisted he was just ‘supplying the public demand’.

Prohibition led to the bootlegging of liquor and the gang wars of the 1920’s. The most notorious gangster of all time, known as Al Capone, was the most powerful mob leader of his era. He dominated organized crime in the Chicago area from 1925 until 1931. Capone grew up during the roaring 20s in Chicago. He joined the James Street gang, lead by Johnny Torrio. In 1920, Torrio asked Capone to move to Chicago and work with his uncle who controlled the city’s largest prostitution and gambling ring at the time. Capone had liked that idea. Later that year the Prohibition act came into affect and Capone became interested in selling illegal whiskey and other alcoholic beverages. Al Capone was America's best known gangster and greatest

Once the organized crime families were established they were the main contributors to the illegal “Bootlegging” of alcohol. During the 20’s there was a great deal of violent crimes. Most of them could be connected back to the organized crime families. Alphonse Gabriel “Al” Capone was a gangster who led illegal activities such as the smuggling and the bootlegging of alcohol during the prohibition. Even though he had a tough exterior he was a caring man he was the first to open up a soup kitchen in Chicago (hammer). Capone’s estimated annual revenue was around 100 million dollars. He had many men working for him such as Frank Nitti, August Pisano and Louis Morganno. He supplied Chicago with most of its alcohol. (Capone: the man and his era).

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.

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 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.

The 1920s was a “time of great criminal activity, with prohibition laws in America and the world in an economic depression” (Nash, 1). Organized criminals such as American mobsters thrived during this time. Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde, and John Dillinger were the most well-known of the gangsters at the time, many of the common people looked to these criminals as “heroes”. There were a tremendous amount of people who turned to criminal activity; mostly because jobs were scarce and

Bootlegging, the distribution and dealing of an illegal substance, was becoming increasingly popular with liquor outlawed. Bootleggers would go to great extents to bring in liquor to their customers, prymarily speakeasy owners, as well as making sure they did not lose their customers to the other vaious gangs in the area. To ensure this threats were made to owners, gang wars began, and many murders occurred. (“Prohibition”) Those who became successful bootleggers became emmensly rich and powerful resulting in the expansion and flourishing of organized crime. Most organized crime leaders, gangsters, were wealthy and lived, at least on the outside, a sophisticated and exuberant life. In fact durning the Prohibition Era many people idolized bootlegging and gangs because it was a fast way to get rich and powerful.This would lead to an increase in the population of gangs. These gangs could be extremely dangerous and would kill many, ultimately causing an increase in homicide rates by 13% ("Organized Crime and Prohibition”). The reasoning behind the homicide rates going up is simple; as different mobs became more powerful in their areas and their range of illegal activities expanded they got more attention and this attention caused for rivalrys between different mobs and a higher police involvement in attempting to end the

“ The evil genius of all gangsterdom was Al Capone, first haled to Chicago at 23 by Johnny Torrio, who was at the time boss of the Windy City’s underworld” (Edey 175). By the time Capone took control in 1925 he controlled all the speakeasies in Chicago, which were estimated to be at 10,000, and had a gang 700 strong to enforce his reign (Edey 175). During Capone’s reign “Chicago suffered upwards of 400 gang murders a year” (Edey 175).

In the 1920s and 1930s America saw a large growth in mafias & mobs, drug & Alcohol Trafficking, and the organization of crime were a result of the Prohibition.

Al Capone form Wikipedia was born in January 17, 1899 in Brooklyn, New York.20 years ago Capone moved to Chicago because a friend Johnny Torino invited him to move there. He lived in the south side of Chicago. Capone’s name was soon in the newspaper because he use to sell illegal liquor to Iowa State. Wen Capone was small he would not go to school some times because instead he would go do bad stuff. If he saw that someone took something from another person he would bet them up and take the object back to its owner. In 1928 Capone was addicted to beer so what he did was he paid $40, 0000 dollars on just beer. Capone had the most powerful gang in Chicago state for more than 3 years he also had the most expensive automobile in Chicago.

The disagreements between Torrio and Colosimo led to the ultimately downfall of their empire when Torrio called for a hit on Colosimo, sending for a young Al Capone in 1920. After a five-year run of the market flooded with wealth, Torrio retired, leaving control over prostitution, gambling and bootlegging to "Scarface" Al Capone. Once in control, Capone focused on the production and distribution of alcohol, and the upkeep of speakeasy (which served as an additional outlet for the market of gambling), notably stating that “somebody had to throw some liquor ..[to satisfy the].. thirst.” It is through Capone taking advantage of the system that organized crime under his rule thrived in the streets of Chicago. Bribing all law enforcement and city officials that stood in his way Capone took the legitimacy out of the law by continuing his control over the streets. Having this power allowed for the protection in his business and the ability to target threatening gangs distilleries and fronts through the usage of police enforcement. Since there was no end of demand, Capone was then able to pay off any form of enforcement that posed a threat to the operation and future success of his gang, yielding Capon to hold a monopoly on Chicago's

It all started when Capone met the infamous gangster, Johnny Torrio. Capone joined Torrio’s James Street Boys Gang, later known as the Five Point Gang. Torrio taught Capone how to successfully run a crime organization. (“Al Capone Biography”) In 1917, Torrio introduced Capone to Frankie Yale, who gave Capone work as a bartender. At his new job, Capone was involved in an argument and was slashed across the face by another man. He received three large scars, and from then on was nicknamed Scarface. When Capone was nineteen he married Mae Coughlin, and together they had a child. Wanting to be a good father, Capone took a break from crime and settled down as a bookkeeper. (“Al Capone” history.com) A few years later, Torrio’s boss, Big Jim Colosimo, was killed by Frankie Yale, and Torrio inherited everything. Torrio asked Capone if he wanted to work with him again, and Capone accepted the job. (Hales) Torrio promoted Capone to be his partner in crime and together they decided to move their operations from Brooklyn to Chicago. (“The Capone effect”) In Chicago, it would be easier to run an organized crime business. Capone was put in charge of the organization’s headquarters called the Four Deuces. In the Four Deuces, the top floor was used as a brothel, while the basement was used to torture rivals. (Hales) The ban of alcohol opened up a