American gangsters during the 1920s

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Most American gangsters controlled liquor sales, gambling, prostitution, and other illegal activities. Even though they had an image as murderers they were involved with the political, social, and economic conditions of the times. In a way gangsters of this time period set the standards for today’s gangs and their participation in the trade of illegal goods.

Alphonse Capone also known as Al Capone was one of the most eminent and feared criminals during the early twentieth century. He was caught up in the highly complicated world of Prohibition, the role of gangs, and prearranged crimes. Overall Al Capone was one of the most appealing and iconic gangsters in the United States. Other significant American gangsters of the time included Vito Genovese, Charles "Lucky" Luciano, John Dillinger, and Bugsy Siegel.

There was a plethora of criminal activities during this period which included bank robberies, the illegal sale of alcoholic beverages, black market drugs, gambling, and prostitution. Violence was used as a device to merge with businesses, during the early twenties. Most gangsters would not murder for entertaining purposes but would for the bitter and calculated gang business practices. The style that gangsters killed during the twenties was different from current killings. Gangsters would take rival gang members and line them up in pairs in front of warehouses walls and shot them down. Early gangsters would kill in business like fashion compared to current gangs that get personal kicks and enjoyment from killings.

Gangs augmented because of mobsters and gangsters during the 1920s and 30s. This caused America’s immigrant communities and ghetto neighborhoods to be inclined to join gangs and ethnic gangs. There is always an end to fame and fortune when you are in a gang. Most gangsters are sent to jail, killed by rival gangsters, or even killed by their own gang members.

[edit] References

Iorizzo, Luciano J. Al Capone: a biography. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2003. ISBN 0-313-32317-8
Asbury, Herbert. The Gangs of Chicago: An Informal History of the Chicago Underworld. New York, New York: Thunder's Mouth Press. ISBN 1-56025-454-8