Prohibition and Crime
Criminals like Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde and John Dillinger were headliners of the era. The tremendous growth in crime in the United States during Prohibition (1920–33) led to the formation of a national organization. After repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment put an end to bootlegging—the practice of illegally manufacturing, selling, or transporting liquor—criminal overlords turned to other activities and became even more highly organized. The usual setup was a hierarchical one, with different “families,” or syndicates, in charge of operations in many of the major cities. At the head of each family was a boss who had the power of life and death over its members. Criminals like Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde and John Dillinger were headliners of the era. They were all part of the different mafia/ gang families.