Mafia

The Mafia Used Prohibition to Become Successful

The Mafia was an organization rooted in defiance of the government (Michael Cavendish 78). On January 16, 1919, the 18th amendment was ratified, prohibiting the importing, exporting, manufacturing, and distribution of alcohol. Ten months later the Volstead Act was passed to enforce the law. The Volstead Act gave the United States Government the right to enforce Prohibition. The United States Government became an easy target of the Mafia by trying to enforce the 18th amendment, and bootlegging, or the selling of illegal alcohol, was born. The unions were overtaken, and as a result distribution to the Mafia owned illegal bars known as “speak easies”, could occur (Fred J. Cook 52). Any man or organization opposing the Mafia would lose his life. Henceforth, the selling of protection grew. Instead of a semi - feudal, exclusively Sicilian association, the Mafia was Americanized to reflect the diverse character and lush opportunities of the adopted land. It grew more flexible, more cooperative, and above all more like a giant American cooperation. Because of the Prohibition Era, the Mafia flourished throughout the United States of America.

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All states, that is except for New York. was not the only politician that tried to cooperate with the Mafia, but is one of the few who succeeded in making a fortune while cooperating. With the money that Meyer obtained, he put the Mafia in every business, almost all of the police were on the salary, and they bribed many political officials. From the beginning Luciana attracted men to his side. When Luciana came to power, he began to eliminate all of the competition just as Capone did. In one instance, after a racketeering trial against Al Capone, he walked out of the courthouse and kicked the mayor of Chicago down the steps, while a paid police officer walked by watching the whole thing (Blok 81). Hundreds of gang members died because of the gang wars. On one occasion, Capone learned that three Sicilian gang leaders were planning to overthrow him. Gunfire started overnight and did not stop for the next few months. A small boy named Meyer Lansky was walking to school one day and Luciana confronted him. However, the Mafia greatly increased the economy, improved living conditions and increased their own profit and membership so that they could be the most prosperous, dangerous and sought after organization in the world. The Kennedy Family started to amass its fortune during prohibition and Joseph Kennedy Sr.

Approximate Word count = 7096
Approximate Pages = 28 (250 words per page double spaced)

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