Mobsters in the 1920s

By Nessarose and Sarah

Organized Crime in the 1920s

• Organized crime is defined as organizations that collaborate to make profit through illegal business enterprises using illegal business tactics

• EX: Violence employed to secure a monopoly in a certain industry

• Organized crime rose enormously in the 1920s

Famous Mobster from the 1920s AL CAPONE!

• Al Capone was the crime boss of the Mafia in the 1920s

• Popular public figure by selling alcohol during prohibition

• Finely caught in 1931 by the U.S. department of justice due to tax evasion

Factors Leading to Rise of Organized Crime

Machine Politics Early Ethnic Gangs

Ghettos

Urbanization Immigration

Industrial Revolution

Industrial Revolution

• The 1920s experienced an economic boom after WWI

• New technologies lead to the mass production of many products in urban factories

• For example, the manufacturing of automobile was revolutionized by Henry Ford, making cars available to many people

Urbanization

• In the 1920s the urban population increased as people were moving to the cities to find work in the new industry

• The government supported policy that benefited urban businesses but hurt farmers

• Between 1920-1930 urban population increased by 14,797 while rural population only increased by 2,267

Immigration

• During the early 1900s there was an enormous amount of immigration into the United States

• During the 1920s efforts were made to lessen the flow of immigration

• The Immigration Act of 1924 put a limit on the numbers of immigrants allowed to enter

• However, immigrant populations were already established in cities

Ghettos

• Ghettos and slums were created to house all the new factory workers

• Migrant and Immigrants were forced to live in these urban ghettos and were separated by ethnic group

• Many conservative (native born) American despised the culture and traditions of these new immigrants

Ethnic Gangs and Machine Politics

• In these urban ghettos, small gangs formed between ethnic groups and families.

• Street gang leaders were employed by politicians to secure votes through campaigning and violence

• Machine politicians used these corrupt methods to win elections

THE PROHIBITION

The Prohibition

• The 18th amendment, which banned the sale, transportation, and production of alcohol, sparked an colossal increase in organized crime

• Suddenly gangs could provide a service, alcohol, that made them extremely popular in their communities

• Many mobsters, such as Al Capone, became admired celebrities to some people

• “If I break the law, my customers… some of the best people in Chicago, are a guilty as me”

~Al Capone

21st amendment

• The 21st amendment repealed the 18th amendment

• This amendment took a toll on organized crime, minimizing the finances and popularity of mobs

• Organized crime did not disappear, but it did shrink and change

Works Cited• 1. "Prohibition." American History. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 22 Oct. 2008 <http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com>.• Summary of prohibition • 2. "organized crime." American History. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 22 Oct. 2008 <http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com>.• Summary of historical organized crime and definition • 3. "Al Capone." American History. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 22 Oct. 2008 <http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com>.• Summary of Al Capone and his role as a gang leader • 4. "Eighteenth Amendment." American History. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 22 Oct. 2008 <http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com>.• Primary source copy of the 18th amendment prohibiting alcohol usage, sale ect • 5. "crime." American History. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 22 Oct. 2008 <http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com>.• Contained a sections on the rising crime in the 1920 because of urbanization• 6. "Federal Bureau of Investigation." American History. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 22 Oct. 2008 <http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com>.• Summary about how the FBI grew in the 1920s in response to crime rise • 7. "Population, Urban and Rural, 1790-2000." American History. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 22 Oct. 2008 <http://www.americanhistory.abc-

clio.com>.• A chart showing the population of select decades in America from 1790-2004 with urban population and rural population noted • 8. "urbanization." American History. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 22 Oct. 2008 <http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com>.• A summary of urbanization throughout American history • 9. "Roaring Twenties (Overview)." American History. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 22 Oct. 2008 <http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com>.• A summary of the 1920s • 10. "Capone, Al." Online Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 25  Oct.  2008  <http://school.eb.com/eb/art-52186

>.• 11. “Organized Crime”. Era of Play: 27 April. 2005. Stevenson University. 23 October. 2008. http://www3.vjc.edu/academics/faculty/f-

gianna/art321/students/section_02/rebecca/homepage.htm• 12. Rood, Karen L. Bruccoli, Matthew J. Layman, Richard. American Decades; 1920-1929. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Inc, 1996.

• Music: “Begin the Benguine” Artie Shaw

Works Cited (Images)

• Chicago Historical Society. "Jury Convicts Capine." Photo Gallery.27 oct 2008www.chicagohs.org/history/ capone/photos12.html (slide 1)

• "Why was Prohibition repealed in december 1933?." The great depression.27 oct 2008www.thegreatdepression.co.uk/ (slide 2)

• Mangesh&Jason. "LIfestyles of the Rich and famous... Criminals." Mental_Floss. 3/5/2008. 26 oct 2008<www.mentalfloss.com/ blogs/archives/12905>. ( slide 3)

• Britannica."power loom” Britannica. Verizon Wireless.27oct 2008< http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/347754/92691/The-invention-of-power-looms-at-the-time-of-the> (slide 5)

• "Encyclopedia: Lincoln, Abraham." 2004. The History Channel website. 27 OCT 2008, 12:25 < http://www.history.com/encyclopedia.do?articleId=227323.> (slide 6)

• "ambivalent interationalists." U.S. Diplomacy. 27 Oct 2008www.usdiplomacy.org/ exhibit/ambivalent.php> (slide 7)

• Sheena."I think this is a ghetto..." City-Data.com. 12/29/2007. 27 Oct 2008 <http://www.city-data.com/forum/phoenix-area/201527-got-some-storys-hood-4.html> (slide 8)

• "Stock Vector: World Flags." iStockphoto. 27 Oct 2008http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup//4112262-world-flags.php?id=4112262 (slide 9)

• Fisher, George R. "OUTLAWS." Philadelphia reflections. StumbleUpon. 27 Oct 2008 <www.philadelphia-reflections.com/ topic/10.htm> (slide 11)

• "Remember: December 5th is Repeal Day!" Ardenstone. 12/2/2007. 27 Oct 2008 <www.ardenstone.com/ 2007/12/> (slide 12)