Was Al Capone An American Gangsters In The 1920s

Ford Kelly

Mr. Thompson

English 11

14 November 2014 1920s Prohibition

“This American system of ours, call it Americanism, call it capitalism, call it what you will, gives each and every one of us a great opportunity if we only seize it with both hands and make the most of it”(Capone). Al Capone, one of the most feared gangsters and bootlegger in Chicago in the 1920s. Capone was a major part of the 1920s prohibition with the bootlegging, enhanced vehicles, and secret clubs known as Speakeasy. The American lifestyle was significantly changed because of these events such as gangsters, bootlegging, and enhanced vehicles.

“When I sell liquor, it's called bootlegging; when my patrons serve it on Lake Shore Drive, it's called hospitality”(Capone). Prohibition was a national constitutional ban on the sale, production, importation, and transportation of alcoholic beverages in the United States. Prohibition costed the Federal Government approximately $11 billion in lost tax revenue, and costing over $300 billion to enforce the law. Alcohol being this expensive

Alphonse Gabriel Capone, an American gangster who achieved prominence during the Prohibition era. Capone was a organized crime boss for seven years, ending when he was 33 years old. Al Capone was a Five-Points gang member; Italian-American gang. Before Capone became famous for his crimes he was a bodyguard for Johnny Torrio; head of illegally supplying alcohol. After Torrio was shot several times, he handed over the business to Capone at the age of 26. Capone took charge of the illegal brewerie business and transportation. With the law on Capones side he began to use more violence to increase revenue. Capone was apart of the the Saint Valentines Massacre to kill the north side gang to reclaim his peace and keep peace throughout other gangs. Al Capone was one of the smartest, violent, organized criminals of this