The Real Beginning

The beginning of organized crime takes us away from the United States, and to the country of Italy, mainly Sicily. The mafia was formed in Sicily to help and protect farmers from beginning terroized by French and Spanish looters. It was not until the 19th century that organized crime made it's way across the Altantic and to the shores of the United States.
By the 19th century the mafia began to show up in major cities like New Orleans, New York, and Chicago. The mafia may not have ever taken control had it not been for the 18th amendment of the the constitution which made prohibition the law. Prohibition made it illegal to buy, sell, or transport alcoholic beverages. Prohibition was ratified on January 29, 1919 but didn't take hold until 1920.
Prohibition began with the sale of foreign booze that was smuggled into the country. After several raids and many thousands of dollars lost, the mob turned to more producing of their own illegal alcohol. Bootlegged whiskey was known as "white lightning." Illegal alcohol could be sold in two ways: you could put it in bottles or it was sent to the taverns in tin cans. This opened a new market for illegal booze to those who would risk it. Prohibition also proved to be filled with murder and corruption. Men like Lucky Luciano, Dutch Schultz, Al Capone, Meyer Lansky, and Vito Genovese would see the opportunity and get their start during this time.