AMERICA’S AMERICA’S MOST MOST

WANTEDWANTEDGangstersGangsters

NotNot

GangstasGangstas

Ladies Love Outlaws (and so do Ladies Love Outlaws (and so do the rest of us Americans)the rest of us Americans)

Why are Why are Gangsters Gangsters

so popular?so popular?

GangstersGangsters

Where do they come from?Where do they come from?Have had outlaws foreverHave had outlaws forever

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance…cat?

But! 1920’s gives rise to new breed of outlaw…

WHY?

TechnologyTechnology

The AutomobileThe AutomobileThe Tommy GunThe Tommy GunThe Violin Case?The Violin Case?

Gangsters mostly becameGangsters mostly becamePopular in the 1920’s becausePopular in the 1920’s becauseof…of…

ProhibitionProhibition

1818thth Amendment (Volstead Act) Amendment (Volstead Act)Prohibited “the manufacture, Prohibited “the manufacture,

sale, or transportation of sale, or transportation of

intoxicating liquors within, intoxicating liquors within,

the importation thereof into, the importation thereof into,

or the exportation thereof or the exportation thereof

from the United States”from the United States”

ProhibitionProhibition

Why?Why?Drunkenness leads to domestic Drunkenness leads to domestic

violence, crime, poverty and…violence, crime, poverty and…

Stupidity?

But what does Prohibition lead But what does Prohibition lead to?to?

LAWBREAKINGLAWBREAKINGSpeakeasiesSpeakeasies

Underground Underground saloonssaloons

Found in Found in cellars, offices, cellars, offices, tenements, tenements, hardware hardware storesstores

But how did the speakeasies get the alcohol?

BootleggingBootlegging

Practice of Practice of smuggling smuggling

Getting the people Getting the people what they wantwhat they want

This made those This made those who got it to the who got it to the people very people very popularpopular

But at what cost?

Gangster, Mobsters, Gangster, Mobsters, BootleggersBootleggers

Organized Crime Gets a rebirthOrganized Crime Gets a rebirthSome make their living because of Some make their living because of

bootleggingbootleggingOthers use Prohibition as an excuse to Others use Prohibition as an excuse to

become a gangster, though they don’t become a gangster, though they don’t use alcohol to make their livinguse alcohol to make their living

Many gangsters get started when the Many gangsters get started when the Depression hits as a way to make Depression hits as a way to make moneymoney

And your lineup is…And your lineup is…

Public Enemy No. 1Public Enemy No. 1

Alphonse CaponeAlphonse CaponeScarfaceScarface

By age 26, head of By age 26, head of crime “family”crime “family”

Made $60 mill. per Made $60 mill. per yearyear

By 1927, worth $100 By 1927, worth $100 Million Million

The Rise and Fall of CaponeThe Rise and Fall of Capone

Reportedly killed Reportedly killed over 500 gang over 500 gang members (killed members (killed more if you count more if you count innocent people)innocent people)

Ruled Chicago until Ruled Chicago until his arrest in 1931his arrest in 1931

Tax EvasionTax EvasionSent to AlcatrazSent to Alcatraz

Mug ShotsMug Shots

“Baby Face” Nelson

“Pretty Boy” Floyd

George “Machine Gun” Kelly

John Dillinger

Bonnie and Clyde Vito Corleone

So Why Do We Love ThemSo Why Do We Love Them

Giving the people what they want?Giving the people what they want?They live an extravagant lifestyle?They live an extravagant lifestyle?Looks like fun?Looks like fun?

TelevisionTelevisionVideo GamesVideo GamesMoviesMovies

Should we love them?Should we love them?Choose Choose 11 scenario to write about (1/2 page scenario to write about (1/2 page

or more)or more)1) You are the family member of an 1) You are the family member of an innocent person killed by a gangster. Who innocent person killed by a gangster. Who do you blame? Why? How would you do you blame? Why? How would you change things so this sort of tragedy change things so this sort of tragedy wouldn’t exist?wouldn’t exist?2) You are a politician who voted for 2) You are a politician who voted for prohibition. Why did you vote for it? With prohibition. Why did you vote for it? With all the violence and lawbreaking do you all the violence and lawbreaking do you think you made the right decision? What think you made the right decision? What would you do to fix the situation?would you do to fix the situation?3) You are a gangster. Why are you a 3) You are a gangster. Why are you a gangster? How do you justify your gangster? How do you justify your actions? What about the innocent people actions? What about the innocent people that get hurt? that get hurt?