Saturday, August 3, 2019
Kuwait :: essays research papers
"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. Valentineââ¬â¢s Day Massacre made the tension against Caponeââ¬â¢s South side, to George "Bugs" Moranââ¬â¢s North side known to the world, ultimately decimating Moranââ¬â¢s men. As Capone made his presence known in Florida, seven of Moranââ¬â¢s 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.
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