1. What do you understand by the word “Gangster”?
What are “gangs”?
Why do “gangs” develop?
Crime Defence Power Money Status Illegal Violence Murder

2. The era of the Gangsters
The Prohibition era saw a rise in organised crime. People still wanted to drink alcohol, so this led to the development of criminal gangs.
These gangs controlled most of the bootlegging industry. They would smuggle alcohol into the USA from Canada and Mexico.

3. Gangs became very wealthy as a result of this illegal trade.

4. Gangsters - Al Capone
Gangs were led by powerful gangsters or “mobsters”. Every city had its gangsters. The most famous example of a gangster was Al Capone of Chicago.
He ran the Southside gang in Chicago and was nicknamed “Scarface”.

5. George "Bugs" Moran George “Bugs” Moran
was Al Capone’s rival in Chicago.
Capone claimed he was the only man he feared.
He was the leader of the rival north side gang of Chicago.

6. Gang Warfare
There was lot of money to be made from bootlegging, and this led to rivalry between the gangs.
This led to gang warfare. Rival gangs would fight over money.

7. Gang Warfare Gang Warfare
Members of gangs would perform “hits” on each other for money and power.
This led to over 400 gang related murders in Chicago alone

8. What did gangsters do?
Gangs bribed federal agents and city officials to ignore their illegal activities, leading to corruption among the police. This increased the power of the gangs.
They also ran “protection rackets”. They would “protect” the owners of speakeasies in return for money.

9. The St Valentine's Day Massacre
This occurred on St Valentines Day 1929
It involved Capone and Moran’s men
Seven of Moran’s highest ranking men were killed
This was the most famous example of gang warfare in action.