Al Capone and the Rise of Crime in America

“After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.”-18th Amendment, Section 1, 1919

Those words initiated the rise of organized crime in America. With the closing of saloons and pubs, speakeasies sprung up like wildflowers around the country. Bootlegging and rum running became underground businesses, while the rise of mob bosses thrived.

Mostly associated with the Italian nationality, criminal gangs were alive in the inner city. These gangs were mostly dominated by the Irish. It was not until the 18th amendment, that the Irish became the ashes, and the Italians rose from the flames. While today the Mob, and the Mafia are the common terms associated with organized crime, other terms are also applied. Those being the Outfit, the Syndicate, and La Cosa Nostra. La Cosa Nostra was a phrase coined by Charles “Lucky” Luciano and Meyer Lansky, meaning “this thing of ours”.

Chicago is perhaps infamous for its role in organized crime, earning a nickname from some as the bootlegging capital of the United States. Chicago was home to notorious gangsters like John Torrio and Al “Scarface” Capone. The geography of the city helped promote and import alcohol from Canada, thus aiding the Mafia in their growth. The St. Valentines Day Massacre made the tension against Capones South side, to George “Bugs” Morans North side known to the world, ultimately decimating Morans men.

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As Capone made his presence known in Florida, seven of Morans men were slaughtered inside a warehouse. Frank Gusenburg, one of the seven victims, lived long enough to inform the police that “Nobody shot me”. “By banding together and aiding each other in case of trouble, by obtaining lawyers and advancing funds, the criminal element has strengthened its position, not only in this city, but in almost every large city in the country. The ring leaders in the movement are old offenders and from their former experiences have a wider knowledge of the law than many policemen.” -Philadelphia Associated Press, 1923

Although Chicago was the only city the thrived in organized crime. New York, Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Detroit were among those who had individuals involved in the Mafia. Detroit, being close to the Canadian border, was a major area for bootlegging. The liquor imported to Detroit was then exported to Capone in Chicago. Due to the heavy trafficking of illegal material, a gang, known as the Purple gang gathered. The Purple Gang was as vicious and blood thirsty as any other racketeer in New York or even Chicago. The Purple Gang controled the bootlegging and rum runing in the city, and even stood up to Capone. They also managed to stay together until the early 1930s when they were eventually overrun by the Syndicate. As years went on, and organized crime flourished, and prohibition continued, mob bosses learned to use more resources to their advantage. One of those being corrupted politicians. Former Chicago mayor “Big Bill” Thompson, encouraged bootlegging and thus far aiding the Capones and other bootleggers campaigns. Luciano had New York mayor Jimmy Walker as well as Chief of Police Grover Warren in his back pocket.

Many thought that the mob would end with the capture and jailing of Al Capone but they were wrong. The Mafia did no tend, but instead flourished. Frank Nitti took his place, and the gangland slayings continued. Nitti had a run in with OBanion and Moran gang, which was then being lead by Ted Newberry. Newberry had on his side a dirty politician, Mayor Anton Cermak, who I turn placed Nitti on trial for the shooting of a police officer. The mob is not entirely Italian as it is glorified to be. On the North side of Chicago, Daniel OBanion was boss. OBanion, of Irish descent, operated from a flower shop. He headed a loyal and lethal group of lieutenants. One of those lieutenants was the notorious “Bugs” Moran. Al “Scarface” Capone is probably the worlds most infamous gangster. Capone was the boss of the South Side, and had many friends, some of which were corrupted politicians. His rivals were lethal, but so was he. Charles Luciano, also referred to as Lucky Luciano. Luciano was as notorious Capone. He is credited with founding the Syndicate in the 1930s.

George “Bugs” Moran was a lieutenant under OBanion. His own men fell victim to the St. Valentines Day Massacre. In my opinion, the rise of the Mafia has shaped our culture. The darkness and secrecy of the Mafia has been glorified through movies, television, and books. Movies such as the acclaimed motion picture triology The Godfather, Scarface, Goodfellas, The Untouchables, Gotti, Casino, and Donnie Brasco; through television such as HBOs original series The Sopranos; and in literature with Mario Puzos The Last Don, which was made into a television movie series. The fashion industry has also glorified the Mafia through the entertainment industry with Armani suits, and expensive shoes. With mobsters, such as John Gotti, running the business from behind bars, the news has presented the Mafia as an underground business based upon drug smuggling, prostitution, loan sharking, and larceny. Whether it was prohibition, or the wanting of territory, the Mafia has become a part of the American culture. And while most associate the Mob with the Italians, there are mobs of many nationalities active in this country, but it only adds more diversity to the great melting pot.