Criminal Activities In The 1920s

he History of Organized Crime in America The late 1800’s to early 1900’s was the start of The organized crime network that has many operations throughout the United States, particularly in New York City and Chicago. This was also known as the American Mafia which started with street gangs back in the late 1800’s. These groups made success through illicit liquor trade which started in the 1920’s Prohibition Era. According to History.com, the 18th amendment was ratified which banned manufacturing and sale of intoxicating liquors which was known as the Prohibition period in American History.

What happened in the 1920s when the 18th amendment was passed? The 18th amendment banned the production, sale, transportation, exportation, importation and consumption of alcohol. This law gave a rare chance to start a business that caused the rise of organized crime. The Mafia, also known as La Cosa Nostra (Our Thing), or the Mob, is the name of several clandestine organizations in Sicily and the United States. Before the 1920s the mafia’s main focus was on gambling, theft, and prostitution in order to make a profit, but when the Volstead act passed it increased their profits even more because all mafia organizations started a black market for bootlegging the outlawed alcohol and they also created speakeasies which was where they sold

The 1920’s was an interesting time in American history. This era was also known as the roaring twenties. Although it is remembered as a fond time before the Great Depression there was also a lot of conflicts arising, Cultural conflicts in particular were at the center. Prohibition and Immigration were two of the main cultural conflicts during this time period.

1920 Corruption Criminal activity in the 1920s advanced vigorously throughout the United States which became publicly witnessed due to the aftermath of the progressive era, resulting in broadcasts, radio, and newspaper. Scandals, such as the Harding Administration Scandal and Teapot Dome Scandal, and illegal activity, such as the gangster Al Capone, became eminent and symbolized corruption of the 1920s. Warren Harding served in office from 1921-1923 as the 29th U.S. President, before dying of a heart attack. His Presidency is famous for scandals and criminal activity orchestrated by some of his cabinet members and officials. Although he was not involved in the scandals, it unfortunately harmed his reputation and was known as a poor president

Crimes associated with bootlegging increased and led to the rise of powerful crime syndicates such as the famous Chicago gangster Al Capone, who made use of the bootleg operations and speakeasies and earned $60 million annually. The criminal activity and the rise in gang violence increased with the progression of the decade, with court rooms and jails overflowing with criminals. Some would even have to wait a year to be brought to trial. Drug use also increased, replacing alcohol. In addition to that, the desire to increase workers’ productivity failed and instead of reducing the consumption of alcohol, which succeeded in the early 1920’s, people actually started to consume more alcohol towards the end of the Prohibition.

Although crime existed prior to the prohibition era, it would see a new extent of the meaning throughout this time. Petty gangster began to monopolize the alcohol industry (illegally) and became millionaires by engaging in lucrative criminal operations. These criminal operations included bootlegging, speakeasies and smuggling. What was once a petty thug with little reign, now gained dominance throughout their community and managed to create a criminal empire that provides them with not only wealth, but power. This power could be seen with the merge of prohibition and the political machine in Chicago, thus creating the most notorious criminal organization in U,S, History, the mob.

The early 1900s was the beginning of the prohibition. With the ban of the distribution of all alcohol came the start of organized crime. Many people helped launch the Gangster Era. One in particular became one of the more notorious to do so. His name is John Dillinger. Professional bank robber, expert escape artist, and an all around dangerous gangster. He was one of the biggest contributors to the Gangster Era of the 1920s and 1930s. He was seen as a hero in the reason that he stole the money from big companies and corporations; the same companies that took advantage of low income citizens. Even though he was extremely dangerous and violent, the life of crime made him very prosperous and wealthy.

During the 1920s multiple criminal activities were taking place and the majority of illegal activity was due to the eighteenth amendment which prohibited the selling and manufacture of alcohol. Illegal activity that took place was bootlegging and the establishment of speakeasies. With criminal activity on the rise, a major criminal behind many illegal activities at the time was Al Capone. In addition, the Mafia rose with gambling, bootlegging, and illegal marketing.

During the 1920’s gang related crime was a serious issue. The leader of all this violence and corruption was a man named Al “Scarface” Capone (“Al Capone”). This organized crime, dehumanization, and corruption, became the ultimate image of Chicago for people throughout the world. He was largely immersed in things like gambling, prostitution, and the illegal sale of liquor. He was not convicted for any of his crimes, even the St. Valentine's Day massacre of 1929, until he was imprisoned for tax evasion (Horan). Al Capone was a very powerful leader and an all around mastermind.

Al Capone Al Capone, a mob boss. In 1920s the mob was at its peak. The mob made alcohol, had prostitutes and gambled during the prohibition. The prohibition was when the 18th amendment was passed, the 18th amendment banned alcohol in the United States. Capone was one of the more well known mob bosses.

During the the Mafia including Torrio and Capone got stupid rich. Once Torrio had crazy money he eventually retired from the mafia in 1925 giving Prostitution, gambling, bootlegging and other illegal activities to the one and only Al Capone aka (scarface). This was the start of organized crime in the

Gangsters like Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde and John Dillinger were taking over big cities. Prohibition was the main cause of organized crime in 1920. Many people were upset about the decision to ban alcohol. Unemployment was at its high and everyone was trying to make a quick buck. Americans turned to crime and the illegal merchandising of alcohol.

“America whose ideals, noble in themselves, [is] becoming untenable, [and is] being corrupted, or crushed and cast out by a new culture progressively giving itself over to material, amoral pleasure (Haegert 97).” The prohibition laws that the US put into place backfired as people realized the profit they could earn by producing and selling alcohol. Instead of being driven by the idea that hard work would earn them the money they deserve, many Americans began to bootleg newly prohibited alcohol, smuggle drugs, gamble, and form gangs that participated in illegal activities and kept their actions secret. This became known as organized crime. The crime rate was exceedingly high in the roaring twenties due to the prohibition laws put in place after the war and people being so driven by wealth that they lost sight of their

Crimes nearly skyrocketed due to the bootleggers organized crime of transportation and sales to sneak alcohol. Bootleggers began their smuggling of liquor into the United States by crossing the Canadian and Mexican borders and ship transportation from the Bahamas and Cuba. The smuggling became even more riskier and more expensive once the Coast Guards started searching the ships from coast to coast but bootleggers had other sources of supply. Gangs began to take control of the bootlegging industry and go from state to state picking up more people. Al Capone was the leader during the Prohibition era of Chicago.

The 1920’s was an interesting, yet powerful era to live through. One major factor that took a part in the 1920’s was prohibition. Prohibition brought two major gangsters to the surface. One major gangster that played a part in the situation was Alphonse Gabriel.