Organised crime (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes

Organised crime during the American boom

Introduction

During the 1920s boom period, Prohibition created unexpected consequences that would reshape American society. The ban on alcohol production and sales provided enormous opportunities for criminal organisations to profit from illegal activities. This period saw the rise of organised crime groups, particularly the Italian-American Mafia, which became deeply embedded in American cities and created lasting divisions in society.

Immigration and the birth of American organised crime

Italian immigration background

The roots of American organised crime can be traced back to massive immigration from Italy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Italian immigrants arrived in America seeking better economic opportunities, with approximately 500,000 Italians living in New York City alone by 1910. Most of these immigrants were honest, hardworking people - typically farmers and unskilled labourers, though some possessed valuable craft skills.

However, like any large immigrant community, this population included some individuals with criminal backgrounds. These Italian criminals operated differently from typical American criminals - they primarily targeted their own communities rather than the broader population, creating a pattern of internal exploitation.

Formation of the American Mafia

The transformation of Italian criminal elements into organised crime syndicates accelerated dramatically when Benito Mussolini became Prime Minister of Italy in 1922. Mussolini launched an aggressive campaign to eliminate the Italian Mafia, forcing many members to flee to America to escape persecution. These experienced criminals brought with them sophisticated organisational structures and a code of conduct known as "omerta" - a tradition of silence and secrecy that made them extremely difficult for law enforcement to penetrate.

In American cities like New York and Chicago, these Italian criminals established what became known as "the Mob" or the American Mafia. They quickly adapted their traditional criminal activities to take advantage of Prohibition, transforming from small-scale local criminals into major players in the illegal alcohol trade.

Impact on American society

Gang violence and territorial conflicts

Organised crime groups engaged in brutal territorial wars as they competed for control of the lucrative bootlegging trade. These conflicts involved sophisticated weapons and military-style tactics, creating unprecedented levels of urban violence. Gang members fought deadly battles over specific neighbourhoods, distribution routes, and customer bases, often with little regard for innocent bystanders who might be caught in the crossfire.

The violence reached shocking levels, with bombings, drive-by shootings, and assassinations becoming regular occurrences in major cities. This warfare created a climate of fear that extended far beyond the criminal underworld itself.

Intimidation and the code of silence

The Mafia maintained control through systematic intimidation campaigns that kept both rivals and potential witnesses silent. The traditional Italian concept of omerta became a powerful tool for preventing cooperation with law enforcement. Anyone who dared to speak to police faced severe consequences, including death. This created an atmosphere where even law-abiding citizens became reluctant to assist authorities, allowing criminal organisations to operate with relative impunity.

Bar owners and other businesses that refused to purchase illegal alcohol from Mafia suppliers often faced violent retaliation, including bombings and physical assault. This forced compliance system allowed organised crime to expand rapidly across multiple industries.

Expansion and diversification

Organised crime groups didn't limit themselves to bootlegging. They expanded into numerous illegal activities including gambling operations, prostitution networks, and loan sharking. They also infiltrated legitimate businesses, using violence and intimidation to gain control of labour unions, construction companies, and entertainment venues. This diversification made them increasingly difficult for law enforcement to combat effectively.

Corruption of public officials

Perhaps most damaging to American society was the widespread corruption of public officials. Crime bosses like Al Capone systematically bribed city mayors, police officers, judges, and other government officials to protect their operations. This corruption undermined public trust in democratic institutions and created a sense that the law applied differently to the wealthy and powerful.

Many ordinary Americans began to feel they couldn't rely on police or other authorities for protection, leading to a breakdown in the social contract between citizens and government.

Increased suspicion of immigrants

The association between Italian immigrants and organised crime created lasting prejudice against Italian-Americans and other immigrant communities. Many law-abiding Italian families faced discrimination and suspicion simply because of their ethnic background, demonstrating how criminal activities could damage entire communities unfairly.

Case study: Al "Scarface" Capone (1899-1947)

Background and rise to power

Born in New York to Italian immigrant parents, Alfonso Capone became the most notorious crime boss of the Prohibition era. In 1919, Capone moved to Chicago and quickly gained the attention of gang leader Johnny Torrio, who recognised his potential. When Torrio retired in 1925, Capone took control of the criminal organisation that would become known as the "Chicago Outfit."

Criminal empire and methods

Capone transformed bootlegging into a massive business operation, reportedly earning $8 million per week at the height of his power. He skillfully combined violence with public relations, portraying himself as a modern "Robin Hood" figure who provided alcohol to ordinary Americans while also donating money to charitable causes. Capone understood that public opinion mattered, often appearing in expensive clothing and jewellery to project an image of success and sophistication.

However, beneath this carefully crafted public image lay a ruthless criminal who used extreme violence to maintain control. Capone's organisation employed hundreds of armed men and controlled numerous speakeasies, breweries, and distribution networks throughout Chicago and beyond.

The St. Valentine's Day Massacre

On February 14, 1929, Capone's rivalry with George "Bugs" Moran reached its bloody climax. Capone's men, disguised as police officers, murdered seven members of Moran's gang in what became known as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. While Moran himself escaped because he arrived late to the meeting, the massacre shocked the American public and turned opinion against Capone.

Downfall and conviction

The St. Valentine's Day Massacre marked the beginning of Capone's downfall. The FBI, recognising the difficulty of proving his involvement in violent crimes due to the code of silence, focused instead on tax evasion charges. Despite Capone's vast wealth being common knowledge, he had failed to pay income taxes on his illegal earnings.

In the end, authorities charged Capone with tax evasion rather than murder or bootlegging - crimes that required no witnesses to come forwards. This strategy proved successful, and Capone received an 11-year prison sentence, effectively ending his criminal career.

After Prohibition

Continuation of organised crime

The end of Prohibition in 1933 didn't eliminate organised crime - it simply forced these groups to adapt to new circumstances. Criminal organisations had grown too large and sophisticated to simply disappear when alcohol became legal again. Instead, they shifted their focus to other illegal activities including drug trafficking, illegal gambling operations, and various forms of racketeering.

Long-term impact

The Italian Mafia and other organised crime groups established during Prohibition continued operating well into the modern era. They had created organisational structures, corruption networks, and territorial controls that proved remarkably durable. Many of the families and organisations formed during the 1920s remained active for decades, demonstrating how the Prohibition era created lasting changes to American criminal culture.

Legacy in legitimate business

Organised crime groups also used their Prohibition-era profits to invest in legitimate businesses, particularly in construction, entertainment, and hospitality industries. This allowed them to maintain influence and power even as their purely criminal activities faced increased law enforcement pressure.

Timeline of key events

• 1910: Approximately 500,000 Italians living in New York City
• 1919: Al Capone moves to Chicago and joins Johnny Torrio's organisation
• 1920: Prohibition begins, creating opportunities for organised crime
• 1922: Benito Mussolini becomes Prime Minister of Italy, begins anti-Mafia campaign
• 1925: Johnny Torrio retires, Al Capone takes control of Chicago Outfit
• February 14, 1929: St. Valentine's Day Massacre shocks American public
• 1931: Al Capone convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to 11 years in prison
• 1933: Prohibition ends, organised crime adapts to new illegal activities