Benito Mussolini Research Paper

Benito Mussolini- most would not classify this Fascist leader as having any part in America’s organized crime. However, Mussolini’s 1922 rise to power allowed the dots connecting the dictator to the Italian Mafia to form. Following World War I, the rising issue of the Sicilian Mafia became pervasive throughout Sicily. Recognizing this threat to his power, he quickly put Cesare Mori, one of his adherents, in charge of purging the Mafia from the streets of Sicily. This was no easy feat, Mafiosi ran rampant throughout Palermo and their bureaucratic leaders maintained an efficient system of eliminating their enemies- assassination. Nonetheless, Vito Cascio Ferro, the leader of the Sicilian Mafia, began evacuating the young mafioso to the New World

The Mafia also introduced thousands of speakeasies and blind pigs, which were “‘secret’ drinking establishments,” where anyone knowing of the password would be allowed entry (Benson 3). Al Capone, one of the most prominent influencers of the twenties, became notorious for his bootlegging monopoly in Chicago and unexpected rise to power: “Although other bootleggers operated in Chicago during the 1920s, Capone was more ruthless, greedy, shrewd, and systematic than the rest,” (“Al Capone” 2). Following his partner's near-assassination and consequent retirement of his gang involvement, Capone was left in charge of the Mafia’s presence in Chicago (“Al Capone” 2). From 1925 to 1931, Al Capone, “often bragged that he "owned" Chicago,” executing some of the Mafia’s most complex- and theatrical- heists, such as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre or his boasting 200 murders, as well as establishing Mafia relations with several of Chicago’s most influential politicians (“Al Capone” 2). In creating these connections, Capone could “ensure that the politicians who were friendly to his organization remained in power, [so]

Although organized crime altered the American Dream’s initial image, much of society glamorized this reckless and exuberant adaptation, as several men gained their wealth through fraudulent methods. Thus, organized crime characterized the overall careless and wealth-seeking attitude in the twenties that is ever-present in The Great Gatsby. This mindset can be seen in most all of the novel’s party scenes, as well as in Fitzgerald's characterization of the Buchanan’s and Jay Gatsby, who is distinguished by his mysterious affiliation with the bootlegging industry. Throughout the novel, Fitzgerald alludes to Gatsby’s role in organized crime being the source of his wealth. However, during Gatsby and Tom’s altercation, Fitzgerald discernibly accredits organized crime to Gatsby’s exuberant lifestyle, “‘I found out what your 'drug-stores' were.’ He turned to us and spoke rapidly. ‘He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter’,” (Fitzgerald 33). During this argument, Tom discloses that Gatsby obtained the bulk of his wealth from illegal activities, a secret that Gatsby attempted to hide from Daisy. Additionally, Fitzgerald’s incorporation of Arnold Rothstein in the character of Meyer Wolfsheim shows the prominence of all matters