What effect the American mafia had on the 1920`s.

Running head : AMERICAN MAFIA IN 1920s

American Mafia

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Place

September 21 , 2006

Abstract

The article starts with a brief of American Mafia , their origins followed by impact of prohibition and mafia gangs in various cities such as Chicago and New York . This article lays special emphasis on circumstances leading to the mafia 's growth and now infamous Roaring Twenties

American Mafia

According to Wikipedia the free encyclopedia , The American Mafia especially Five Families has its origins in Italian Cosa Nostra . The American Cosa Nostra

underwent many changes at the hands of Black Hand gangs around 1900s , Five Points Gang during 1910s and 1920s in New York City and Al Capone 's Syndicate in 1920s in Chicago . Two factions of organized crime emerged by the end of 1920s leading to Castellamarese war for gaining control over organized crime in New York City . Murder of Joseph Masseria , leader of one of the factions ended the war uniting the two factions . First leader of the American Mafia Salvatore Maranzano established a code of conduct , family ' divisions and structure . He also established certain procedures to resolve disputes but was murdered within six months . Charles Lucky ' Luciano took over the reins and set up a Commission ' consisting of bosses from six or seven families for managing their activities

According to Binder , Jim Colosimo or Big Jim ' was considered the most powerful gangster and led a multi-ethnic group , with Italian , Jewish Irish , Greek and other members . In May 1920 he was probably shot dead by Frankie Yale under contract John Torrio ' John Torrio took over and united major local gangs dividing the liquor business in Chicago city to a stable state and profitability . The other major gangs during this period in Chicago were North Siders led by Dion O 'Banion , the Guilfoyle gang , the Gennas in Little Italy , the West Side O 'Donnells , the Druggan-Lake gang , the Saltis-McErlane gang and the Sheldon gang

Torrio under the guidance of Capone took over brothels in Cicero and managed the largest area covering the South Side and major suburbs occupying the south and west of the city

Problems started when a gang tried to increase its profits by not following the agreement strictly and entered neighboring gang 's territory . Friction between Gennas and the O 'Banion gang led to the murder of O 'Banion in November 1924 starting off prohibition gang wars

The Sheldon gang , the Gennas , the Druggan and Lake , the Guilfoyle and later the Circus Gang were all allies of Torrio-Capone . Chicago Heights joined Capone in 1926 and controlled Joliet and major areas east of Indiana and south of Chicago

Torrio was succeeded by Al Capone in 1925 . Gennas under Hymie Weiss surrendered after their leadership was attacked by North Siders and the Gennas rackets such as Unione Siciliana were taken over by Al Capone appointing Tony Lombardo as Unione president . The West Side O 'Donnells joined ranks with Capone in 1926 after a short lived gang war . Similarly Sheldon gang too joined Capone...