Organized Crime In Chicago
Chicago Organized Crime and Political Figures
Organized crime in Chicago has existed for over a century, with its magnitude being extremely pronounced before the year of prohibition i.e. 1919. The gangsters took advantage of lucrative markets for illegal activities such as gambling, prostitution, robbery, hijacking and contract killing to extort. The popularity of the gang activities such as gambling was amplified by the hardships caused by depression; the poor citizens had high hopes of being released from the financial problems through winning of bets. Other reasons for the proliferation of crime in Chicago was because the city’s children were exposed to the criminal activities at a tender age and the ease by which criminals make a living …show more content…
He delved in gang activities at a tender age of 14 years following his expulsion from school. According to History Files - Al Capone, he got engaged in a myriad of occupations such as a clerk in a candy store, a cutter in a book bindery, bouncer as well as a bartender before becoming a gangster. He was recruited for Chicago by Johnny Torrio, the Chicago crime boss at the time. Torrio’s retirement of 1925 cleared the way for Al Capone to become the leader of the crime syndicate. This organization operated various business establishments including restaurants, dance halls, speakeasies and distilleries while operating a myriad of crime activities such as bootlegging liquor, smuggling and prostitution (Bardsley). His illegitimate occupation did not prevent him from becoming a highly influential public figure due to the generous donations he offered to charity as well as bribing powerful government officials. One of the prominent associations that significantly boosted his business proficiency and control involved the corrupt relationship with Big Bill Thompson. This allowed Capone’s gang to operate without legal …show more content…
(2013). Chapter 3: The American Mafia. Organized Crime (10th ed., pp. 65-70). Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Bardsley, M. (n.d.). Al Capone: Chicago 's Most Infamous Mob Boss. ” Made In America” Crime Library on truTV.com. Retrieved November 1, 2013, from http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/gangsters_outlaws/mob_bosses/capone/index_1.html
Hales, T., &Kazmers, N. (n.d.). Home - The Impact of Organized Crime on the City of Chicago.Home - The Impact of Organized Crime on the City of Chicago. Retrieved November 1, 2013, from http://www.umich.edu/~eng217/student_projects/nkazmers/index1.html
History Files - Al Capone.(n.d.). History Files - Al Capone. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.chicagohs.org/history/capone.html
Schmidt, J. (2011, October 3). WBEZ 91.5 Chicago.William E. Dever: The mayor who cleaned up Chicago. Retrieved November 1, 2013, from http://www.wbez.org/blog/john-r-schmidt/2011-10-03/william-e-dever-mayor-who-cleaned-chicago-92024
Schottenhamel, G. (n.d.). How Big Bill Thompson Won Control of Chicago.JSTOR. Retrieved November 1, 2013, from
Organized crime in Chicago has existed for over a century, with its magnitude being extremely pronounced before the year of prohibition i.e. 1919. The gangsters took advantage of lucrative markets for illegal activities such as gambling, prostitution, robbery, hijacking and contract killing to extort. The popularity of the gang activities such as gambling was amplified by the hardships caused by depression; the poor citizens had high hopes of being released from the financial problems through winning of bets. Other reasons for the proliferation of crime in Chicago was because the city’s children were exposed to the criminal activities at a tender age and the ease by which criminals make a living …show more content…
He delved in gang activities at a tender age of 14 years following his expulsion from school. According to History Files - Al Capone, he got engaged in a myriad of occupations such as a clerk in a candy store, a cutter in a book bindery, bouncer as well as a bartender before becoming a gangster. He was recruited for Chicago by Johnny Torrio, the Chicago crime boss at the time. Torrio’s retirement of 1925 cleared the way for Al Capone to become the leader of the crime syndicate. This organization operated various business establishments including restaurants, dance halls, speakeasies and distilleries while operating a myriad of crime activities such as bootlegging liquor, smuggling and prostitution (Bardsley). His illegitimate occupation did not prevent him from becoming a highly influential public figure due to the generous donations he offered to charity as well as bribing powerful government officials. One of the prominent associations that significantly boosted his business proficiency and control involved the corrupt relationship with Big Bill Thompson. This allowed Capone’s gang to operate without legal …show more content…
(2013). Chapter 3: The American Mafia. Organized Crime (10th ed., pp. 65-70). Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Bardsley, M. (n.d.). Al Capone: Chicago 's Most Infamous Mob Boss. ” Made In America” Crime Library on truTV.com. Retrieved November 1, 2013, from http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/gangsters_outlaws/mob_bosses/capone/index_1.html
Hales, T., &Kazmers, N. (n.d.). Home - The Impact of Organized Crime on the City of Chicago.Home - The Impact of Organized Crime on the City of Chicago. Retrieved November 1, 2013, from http://www.umich.edu/~eng217/student_projects/nkazmers/index1.html
History Files - Al Capone.(n.d.). History Files - Al Capone. Retrieved October 28, 2013, from http://www.chicagohs.org/history/capone.html
Schmidt, J. (2011, October 3). WBEZ 91.5 Chicago.William E. Dever: The mayor who cleaned up Chicago. Retrieved November 1, 2013, from http://www.wbez.org/blog/john-r-schmidt/2011-10-03/william-e-dever-mayor-who-cleaned-chicago-92024
Schottenhamel, G. (n.d.). How Big Bill Thompson Won Control of Chicago.JSTOR. Retrieved November 1, 2013, from