Rise Of Organized Crime

The author does a great job giving background information on how organized crime emerged in the early part of the nineteenth century. Then became much stronger though prohibition with Italian, Irish, and Jewish groups

From the outside looking in, many would few gangs as a tight knit, criminal enterprise that causes violence and problems for the community. They believe that their violence and feuds are with rival gangs. In reality, gang members fight against members of the same gang, they are not organized in their structure and many join gangs to meet some psychological or emotional

During the 1920s, organised crime was a major issue plaguing federal authorities, as well as the American people. This took place in most big cities across the United States, particularly in Chicago, Illinois, where gangsters such as Al Capone, Bugs Moran and Johnny Torrio dominated all aspects of life. However, at this time, authorities also faced problems from the government through corruption and scandalous actions.

Adrian Cobb Cobb 1 Coach Croley AP Language/Composition 6 March 2015 Period: 5 Organized Crime and its Influences Organized crime became extremely popular in the 1920s with the prohibition of alcohol; it prompted would-be gangsters to begin illegally making it and smuggling it. The Volstead Act enforced the ban on importing, sale, and production of alcohol which opened up money possibilities for gangsters. It became not only a source of money for the mob bosses, etc. but for politicians and other authority figures through bribes, blackmails, and so on. Society changed for the better and worse – better after years that this occurred and it was combat, but worse for the people of the society that had nothing to do with the mob’s dealings, etc.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s immigration to a new better world, the United States Of America was in full swing. With all the immigration from so many different countries brought much diversity to America but it also brought a new type of crime, Organized Crime. This was due to a part that the Italian Sicilian Mafia was under attack from Mussolini regime but also the creation of the 18th amendment banning the sales, manufacturing, or transportation of any alcoholic beverage.

In January 1920, Prohibition was mandated under the Eighteenth Amendment to reduce drinking by eliminating businesses that distributed, produced, and sold alcoholic beverages. The Eighteenth Amendment and the Volstead Act combined to make it a federal crime to one who possesses alcohol, even if the consumption was done in private or in one's home. This was made to lower crime and corruption, reduce social problems, lower taxes needed to support prisons and jails, and improve health and hygiene in America. Many women, in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, believed that supporting Prohibition would also protect families, women, and children from the effects of alcohol.

After World War I, the attitude of Americans in the United States changed drastically. For the first time, more people lived in cities than in rural areas (Danzer 640). Trends including superficial fads, professional sports, new types of music, and the idea of celebrities represented the establishment of pop culture during the “Roaring 20s” (Fagnilli 46). Challenging the values and practices of the traditional American, many individuals, usually young people, introduced casual dating, more revealing clothing, birth control, and new styles of dancing (Fagnilli 45-46). Although the 1920s were considered the “good times,” there was a darker side to this era, including a rise in unemployment, organized crime, and an irrational fear of communism.

Organized crime today differs a lot from the past. For example, during the 1920’s organized crime was primarily a domestic concern and today it is a transnational concern. Before, organized crime was all about having power and looking up for their location and rarely never go beyond there. Today they are just everywhere, per say one group can be in multiple locations at the same time. Today is all about money and controlling licit and illicit enterprises. This new form of organized crime started during the 1970’s and forward, this changed was due to the new era of globalized world, soft borders, and the revolution of technology. All of this opened the doors to a creative and powerful transnational organized crime. How this all started anyways?

As the Mafia grew in America, they prospered off illegal gambling and prostitution. It wasn't until 1919 with the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution that the Mafia really gained power. The 18th amendment banned the distribution and manufacturing of alcoholic beverages in America (Prohibition 2). Although this amendment meant nothing but good, it did the exact opposite to America. While politicians saw an improved nation with this amendment, criminals saw green. Americans now thought drinking as a thrill, it was something illegal that they can do but get away with. It was the rush of getting away with it that made speakeasies so popular. Speakeasies were Mafia-run entertainment clubs, consisting of an open bar of the finest bootlegged liquor along with dining and entertainment (Prohibition 5).

The United States of America is no stranger to corruption and extortion. Gang violence, the mafia, murder for pay and the marijuana industry in un-legalized states are a few examples of organized crime that happen in current day America. There are many different forms and types of organized crime today but where did they arise from? The rise and growth of organized crime in America can be attributed to government intervention in the social lives of the people, the Great Depression, and the jurisdictional limitations set on the authorities at local, state, and federal levels.

The organized crime groups that I am most familiar with include terrorist groups, gangs, and mafias. As a result of living in a city in Florida, I have heard more about gangs compared to when I used to live in a rural town in Vermont. I’ve always heard about gang violence and the crime they commit, such as theft and murder (“Tampa Bay gangs,” n.d.). I also know that gangs can be represented by different colors, markings, and often members will have tattoos of the gang logo (“Tampa Bay gangs,” n.d.). Al Qaeda and ISIS are the two terrorist groups I have heard the most about because of how often the groups are committed crimes that are making national headlines. From the 9/11 terrorist attacks to the recent attach on Paris, terrorist groups are constantly committing crime and violence against society (Mallory, 2012). Lastly, I am not too familiar with the names of various mafias, I have only heard about the different types of crime they commit.

The problem of gangs persists and lives are still being lost today. Gangs are truly are an assault on whatever community they are in. They tear at the very fabric of family and community life. There have been many attempts to solve the problem of gangs, but most were not backed up by data or hard evidence and therefore they are difficult to assess. One factor as to why gangs cannot be stopped permanently

3. Characterize the initiation ritual. How do you think it compares to the “real” ritual – if such a ritual exists?

Organized crime has a long history in Russia, starting from thievery and banditry done by peasants stealing from each other to mafia groups controlling the government. Even though organized crime in Russia has been alive for a long time, organized crime was shaped by the soviet economy and their government. Furthermore, organized crime sought after the “market demands for goods and services that are illegal, regulated, or simply in short supply”, (Finckenauer, 2004, p.62). Meaning Russian mafia was engaged in activities what today society calls the black market. Actually, while the Soviet Union was in power, products and the action of providing services to someone was in short supply so consequently organized crime groups produced legal goods

“Crime butchers innocence to secure a throne, and innocence struggles with all its might against the attempts of crime”- Maximilien Robespierre