Sunday, January 12, 2014

Mafia and Prohibition

Sources: http://www.mafiamob.com/history.htm
              http://www.history.com/topics/mafia-in-the-united-states

 The mob, better known as The American Mafia, is an organized international body of “gangsters” that specialize in dangerous criminal activity. The mafia came about and prospered mostly during the 1920’s. Although different ethnic groups practiced organized crime, the American Mafia was primarily made up of immigrated Italian Americans and Sicilians. “By the early 1900's every large city in the United States had its own mafia sanction.” The most popular corruptions took place in New York and Chicago. Some of the roaring 20’s prominent mobsters included the notorious Al “Scarface” Capone, Charlie “Lucky” Luciano, and John Gotti. The mob engaged in illegal and illicit activity that included: drug-trafficking, prostitution and bootlegging.
     The American Mafia played a key role in the Prohibition and the Prohibition era. “[The] Prohibition era is probably the most legendary era in gangster history.” The eighteenth amendment initiated the Prohibition, which was the law that made the consumption, manufacture and sale of alcohol banned and utterly illegal. Liquor was a high demand within the population; its sudden outlaw caused the mob to become involved in bootleg racketeering. The mafia’s reputation and assets “flourished” since they advanced in the bootlegging and smuggling alcoholic beverages. They thrived on the profit of these illegal activities, which caused them to become widely renowned and wealthy. The American Mafia was the main influence and authority during the Prohibition era, within the 1920’s.
      
                                   

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