The American Mafia, also known as the Italian Mafia, Mafia, or the Mob, is an organized Italian-American criminal society that originated in the late 19th century. The Mafia was formed in impoverished Italian neighborhoods of major cities such as New York City, Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Miami, and many of its founders were born in either Sicily or southern Italy. During the 21st century, the Mafia had a strength of 2,000 made men and 50,000 associates, and it mostly operated in the major cities, especially ones with major Italian populations.
History[]
Organization[]
The Mafia was organized based on the Sicilian Mafia's traditions, with each gang being known as a "family". A family is led by a boss known as the Don, a man of respect, wealth, and power who is able to be an administrator in crime. Families typically consist of several tiers, starting with the Don, and then descending down the ranks; his adviser - the consigliere is the second-in-command; the Underboss is typically the heir to the family, although it can also be a senior leader; the caporegimes (or "capos" for short) are the Don's lieutenants who lead their own crews and have their own territories; the soldati (or "soldiers") are the Caporegimes' underlings who are protected by the family; the enforcers are hired muscle that work for soldati, but they do not have the same protection as them; associates are Mafia members who are of other ethnicities or have business partnerships with the Mob; and outsiders are people hoping to "make their bones" in the Mafia. Soldati and those above them are all "made men", men of pure Italian (traditionally Sicilian or Neapolitan) descent who swear oaths to honor omerta, the Mafia code that states that members cannot betray the family, at the cost of their lives.
Rise of the Mafia[]
The rise of the Mafia occurred in the early 20th century in New York City, when the Mafia emerged victorious over the Neapolitan Camorra, and the Sicilian crime bosses developed small street gangs into organized families with the Mafia structure. Lucky Luciano is considered to be the founder of the modern Mafia, as he organized the purge of the "Mustache Petes" (the old-fashioned, Italian-born mob bosses) and their replacement by younger and more American mobsters. Luciano also founded "The Commission", an unofficial body representing every Mafia family; the heads of the families would meet - typically in a hotel or a safehouse - and discuss issues to prevent gang warfare.
Extortion and corruption[]
The Mafia became a threat to law and order as their members began to extort businesses, forcing owners to pay them "protection" money to prevent the mobsters from wrecking the stores. The Mafia also became involved in illegal businesses such as bootlegging during the 1920s and 1930s, the narcotics trade, prostitution, and gambling, making them a threat to the legal system. One of the most famous mob bosses, Al Capone of the Chicago Outfit, smuggled alcohol into the USA from Canada, and he bribed officials and politicians in Chicago to let him do his business. The Mafia's involvement in corruption made it especially dangerous, as it had power over politicians, policemen, union officials, and influential people. In New York City, the "Five Families" developed into major organized crime syndicates, and mob murders were common on the streets of Brooklyn and other Italian-American areas on New York City during the mid-20th century. In addition, the Mafia extended its reach to cities like Tampa, Boston, Providence, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, New Orleans, and Las Vegas during the 1940s, and they ran several major businesses. Las Vegas grew from an oasis town in the Nevada desert into a casino city due to the Mafia's influence, and the Mafia controlled many of the casinos, nightclubs, and hotels for several decades.
Decline[]
The Mafia's power was shattered when a mafioso named Joseph Valachi broke omerta and testified before Congress in 1963, revealing the structure and codes of the Mafia. The Mafia had previously been investigated in the Kefauver Committee of 1950-1951, which had led to the start of the FBI investigation into the Mafia. However, the government struck a gold mine when Valachi decided to become an informant to save himself some jail time. Valachi gave details on the Mafia's murders, their rules, the organization and hierarchy, involvement in racketeering, and other incriminating facts, and he revealed that Mafia members called the group the "Costa Nostra", meaning "this thing of ours". Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy began a legal war on the Mafia, which was suspected of assassinating President John F. Kennedy that same year, and the FBI and other government agencies cracked down on the Mafia.
Fall[]
Mafia boss John Gotti, one of the most infamous and recognizable bosses of the late 20th century
During the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, Mafia violence continued on a large scale, and Philadelphia and southern New Jersey were embroiled in mob warfare between rival factions of the Philadelphia crime family after Philip Testa's assassination in 1980. Many key Mafia leaders such as Sammy Gravano "turned states" and informed on their fellow mafiosi, leading to many of them entering prison or the Witness Protection Program. By the 1990s, African-American and Hispanic street gangs had become the main source of crime in America, with the Mafia dying out, at least as a violent group.
Political involvement[]
In the early 20th century, particularly during the Prohibition era (1920-1933), the Mafia found common ground with both Democratic and Republican political machines. They collaborated to profit from illegal activities such as bootlegging. Politicians turned a blind eye to Mafia operations in exchange for financial support and votes, allowing both parties to benefit. Al Capone, the infamous Chicago mobster, had close ties with the Republican political establishment in Illinois. He was known to have connections with key political figures, including Mayor William Hale Thompson. Capone supported Thompson’s campaign financially and in return, received protection for his bootlegging operations. The Chicago Republican machine allowed Capone to operate with relative impunity, as long as he maintained order and provided votes in favor of the party.
Although primarily known for his anti-communist investigations, Wisconsin's Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy had alleged connections to organized crime during the 1950s. While he was never prosecuted, his aggressive tactics and ties to individuals with Mafia connections raised suspicions. Frank Costello, a prominent Mafia figure, had relationships with various politicians, including Republicans. While Costello himself was not a politician, his influence extended to several Republican officials. He was convicted of contempt of Congress in 1951, but more importantly, investigations into his political ties revealed how organized crime could infiltrate political circles.
Particularly in big cities like Chicago, New York, and New Orleans, the Mafia began to develop strong ties with Democratic political machines. Politicians often relied on the Mafia for control over immigrant populations and to secure votes. In return, the Mafia received protection for their illegal activities, including gambling and drug trafficking. Tammany Hall was the Democratic political machine in New York City that had significant ties to organized crime. The Mafia, particularly figures like Lucky Luciano and later Vito Genovese, collaborated with Tammany to control the city’s political landscape. Richard J. Daley, the long-serving Democratic mayor of Chicago, maintained an informal alliance with organized crime figures like Sam Giancana. The Mafia helped secure votes, especially in immigrant neighborhoods. The collaboration included Mafia members securing jobs in city government and police forces, creating a system of mutual benefit. Carlos Marcello, the head of organized crime in New Orleans, had deep ties to local Democratic politicians. He was known to have connections with influential figures, including former Governor Earl Long. Marcello was involved in various political corruption schemes, using his influence to ensure the protection of his operations. While there is no direct evidence that John F. Kennedywas involved with the Mafia, his family had ties to organized crime figures, particularly during the 1960 election. The Mafia reportedly helped with voter turnout in Chicago, which was crucial for Kennedy's victory. After his election, there were claims that the Mafia expected favors in return for their support, particularly concerning labor and casino interests. Alabama governor George Wallace, known for his controversial policies, had associations with organized crime figures in the South, including connections to Mafia families involved in gambling operations.
The Mafia also infiltrated labor unions, particularly during the mid-20th century. They manipulated union leadership to extort money from legitimate businesses and secure jobs for Mafia associates. This partnership provided the Mafia with both financial resources and political clout, as unions were significant players in Democratic politics. Although Jimmy Hoffa was the president of the Teamsters Union, he had strong ties to various Democratic politicians. He collaborated with Mafia figures to control labor unions and was linked to organized crime families, especially in Chicago. Hoffa was convicted of jury tampering, attempted bribery, and fraud but had extensive connections with Democratic politicians who sought his support in labor matters.
The informal partnership between the Mafia and Democratic machines began to wane in the 1960s. Increased scrutiny from law enforcement, the rise of civil rights movements, and the changing political climate led to a crackdown on organized crime. High-profile investigations, such as those by the Kefauver Committee, exposed the corruption and connections between the Mafia and politicians. By the late 20th century, especially during the 1980s and 1990s, many Mafia members began to shift their political support from Democrats to Republicans. As the Republican Party became associated with pro-business policies, Mafia leaders saw potential for profitable partnerships. With shifts in power dynamics, Mafia leaders sought to align themselves with whichever party was in favor, often adapting their affiliations based on the prevailing political climate.
Michael Franzese, a former mobster, claimed that mobsters supported the Democrats while "in the life" (due to the party's perceived corruptibility) and Republicans after retiring. Traditionally, mobsters in urban areas, especially in places like North Jersey, often supported Democratic candidates. This was due in part to the influence of Democratic political machines that provided protection and opportunities for illegal activities. As Franzese noted, many mobsters tended to shift their support to Republican candidates after retiring. This change was influenced by a desire for lower taxes and pro-business policies, which they believed would benefit their financial interests. In some regions, particularly where traditional Democratic machines still wield power, there may be remnants of this support. In North Jersey, areas with strong union ties and long-standing Democratic leadership might still receive backing from some Mafia-affiliated individuals. Increasingly, many former mobsters and those connected to organized crime have leaned Republican, particularly as the party has embraced pro-business policies and a focus on law-and-order rhetoric. The political decisions of mobsters may also be influenced by social values, such as attitudes toward law enforcement, taxation, and family-centric policies. As some mobsters age or retire, their views may align more closely with Republican ideals.