The Mafia In The 1920s

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The Mafia revolutionized America and first become powerful in the 1920s when they were apart of an illegal alcohol trade. After Prohibition, the Mafia became criminally active in other activities such as, drug trafficking and illegal gambling. The Mafia some hierarchies and rituals. It was not easy being and integrating the Mafia life into an everyday thing. It took the upmost loyalty and commitment. "Typically, each American Mafia crime family was organized around a hierarchy headed by a boss, who ruled with unquestioned authority and received a cut of every money-making operation taken on by any member of his family. Second-in-command was the underboss and below him were the capos, or captains, who each controlled a crew of 10 or so soldiers (men who had been “made,” or inducted into the family). Each family also had a consigliere, who acted as an advisor and ombudsman. At the bottom of the chain were associates, people who worked for or did business with the family but weren’t full-fledged members" (Source 1). The Mafia held a ceremony for those who met the qualifications to be apart the crew. They would be, "pricking his finger to draw blood and holding a burning picture of a patron saint while taking an oath of loyalty" (Source 1). Being apart of the Mafia had its perks and also its responsibilities, but also the individual had to be extremely careful because danger always looms in the Mafia. Famous mafia leaders were Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Machine Gun Kelly, and John Gotti.