1920 organized crime

I'm doing a history report on the roaring 20's to be specific organized drime. Can anyone give me a gist on what I should do research on such as who was in charge and some big events.

Don Cardi knows a lot of history on the mob.

Try to get your hands on the book Organized Crime from Howard Abadinsky....it has a lot info about things in the '20s ....you can find your subject for 100% certain in this book.

Think of the Roaring Twenties and two things immediately come to mind and MUST BE included in your research - Prohibition and Al Capone.

Prohibition, through its legislation, the Volstead Act, essentially made the sale of booze illegal and was probably the biggest reason that organized crime came to such prominence in the 20's (it provided the Mob tremendous amounts of money with which to pay off government officials).

Al Capone, perhaps America's best known mobster, came to power during this period and personified the violent and corrupt decade.

You'd be wise to do research on the Jewish and Italian gangs organizing into what eventually became the national crime syndicate. Names like Meyer Lansky, Arnold Rothstein, "Lucky" Luciano and Frank Costello will point you in the right direction with your research.

Tom,

Take SC's advice! The man certainly knows what he is talking about especially when it comes to the Mob, Prohibition and The Italian and Jewish factors involved.

His father ran molasses during that time, in trucks provided by my father! Just Joking.

But if I were you, I would research exactly what SC suggested! Good Luck!


Don Cardi

Thanks guys the research is going well