The 1920s were a time of poverty and strife. This, though, could be avoided at the cost of one's own morality. Due to the fact that the 1920s were a time full of struggle, the mafia and its bosses were able to provide illegal services and established themselves as one of the most powerful groups within America at the time. The mob's capacity to prey on the weak and disenfranchised elements of society during the 1920s and beyond was one of the main factors that contributed to their success. They targeted immigrants in particular because they frequently had to work in hazardous, low-paying, and illegal jobs in order to survive in their new nation, as stated here “Jews were still another key ethnic group. Due to an influx of Jews from Germany, …show more content…
By their strategic thinking and capacity for influence over those around them. First off, Al Capone, a notorious figure in American mafia history, ruled the Chicago Outfit with a ruthless hand from the 1920s until the early 1930s. Capone was renowned for his ruthlessness, lavish lifestyle, and willingness to resort to extraordinary measures to defend his criminal organization. The notorious St. Valentine's Day Massacre, which saw seven members of a rival gang brutally slain in a Chicago garage in 1929 proven by “The seven men thought they were facing only arrest.... Otherwise [they] would have sold their lives dearly. However, the ‘police’ opened fire with machine guns and shot-guns.” (Woog 32). Capone remained a significant player in the Chicago underworld despite spending the majority of his career on the run from the law; he was finally imprisoned for tax evasion in 1931. Another notorious mob boss was Sam Giancana. He was one of the most infamous mafia leaders in American history, rumored to have links all the way up to the White House. Giancana was well-known for his involvement in organized crime, and his influence went well beyond the city's boundaries. He was close friends with politicians, high-ranking officials, and celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, and others. Another mob boss, well known for his involvement in gambling and for making Las Vegas a center for legal gambling, Bugsy Siegel was a prominent gangster. Born in Brooklyn in 1906, Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel was one of the most infamous mafia figures in American history. At an early age, he was involved in organized crime and swiftly progressed through the ranks to become