The United States is one of the countries where the Mafia developed most significantly. The American Mafia emerged primarily as a result of the large influx of Italians into the U.S. in the second half of the 19th century, some of whom practiced Mafia-style criminal enterprises. While the U.S. had and still has various Mafia groups based on ethnic and racial lines (such as the Irish, African-American, Armenian, and Greek mafias), the Italian Mafia achieved the greatest influence.
Beginnings
In the mid-19th century, a large number of Italians began emigrating to the United States, fleeing poverty and political instability at home. Many settled in urban centers like Chicago, New York, and New Orleans, where they faced prejudice, discrimination, and a harsh life. In these early communities, some immigrants began forming criminal gangs as a means of survival in a relatively lawless environment. These gangs often provided protection to local Italians against violence from other ethnic groups (white entrepreneurs, Irish immigrants, and Black communities), as well as from corrupt and abusive American authorities.
By the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, various Mafia groups began organizing into more complex structures. Key gangs included New York’s Five Points Gang, which attracted many future mafiosi of various nationalities. Irish and Italian gangs controlled illegal activities such as gambling and prostitution, and began collaborating with other ethnic groups.
Prohibition – A Rapid Rise in Influence
Prohibition, the ban on the production and distribution of alcohol from 1920 to 1933, was a key moment in the development of the American Mafia. While the ban on alcohol was intended to reduce alcoholism and organized crime, it had the opposite effect. Mafia gangs in the U.S. became the primary suppliers of alcohol. Demand for alcohol skyrocketed, and the Mafia had the skills and networks needed to deliver it. The illegal alcohol trade brought the Mafia enormous profits. Mafia leaders, like Al Capone in Chicago, became famous public figures. Capone used brutality and corruption to eliminate competition, and his rise to power reflects how the Mafia became a significant force in American society. During this period, the Mafia also began to develop its structures and codes of honor.
The Golden Age of the Mafia
After Prohibition ended in 1933, the Mafia, which had amassed wealth and power through the illegal distribution of alcohol, continued to expand its business interests. Using the money and experience from that era, Mafia families extended their influence into new areas, particularly gambling, hospitality, and extortion. The Golden Age of the Mafia in the United States spans from the 1940s to the 1960s. During this period, the Mafia had its greatest influence and reach in American society, politics, and the economy. In this time, Mafia organizations, especially Italian-American families, established structures that enabled their long-term success and power.
A key element of the Mafia’s success during the Golden Age was the Commission, established in 1931 under the leadership of Charles „Lucky“ Luciano. The Commission acted as a kind of “board of directors” for the American Mafia and allowed for coordination between different families, minimizing conflicts and promoting cooperation. The Commission was composed of the heads of the main Mafia families (Genovese, Gambino, Lucchese, Bonanno, and Colombo) in New York, and served as the main forum for resolving disputes and coordinating activities across the country. This system brought stability and ensured the Mafia’s effective operation.
One of the Mafia’s key business ventures was the development of Las Vegas as a gambling hub. Italian-American mobsters, including Bugsy Siegel, recognized the potential that the state of Nevada offered with legalized gambling, and invested in building casinos, including the famous Flamingo Hotel. The Mafia controlled numerous casinos and used them as a means of laundering money, securing a steady stream of income. Las Vegas became a true Mafia city, and the Mafia made millions. During the Golden Age, mobsters had a tremendous influence over unions. Control over unions gave the Mafia not only significant financial revenues but also political influence, as unions could mobilize voters and apply pressure on politicians. The Mafia increasingly focused on lucrative businesses such as drug trafficking and prostitution.
Decline of Mafia Power
By the late 1950s and early 1960s, the U.S. government began intensifying efforts against organized crime. A key moment was the Apalachin Meeting in 1957, when authorities captured many leading mobsters at a secret meeting in New York. The incident opened the public’s eyes to the Mafia’s real power. Investigators, such as prosecutor Robert F. Kennedy, began working to uncover the Mafia’s connections with politicians and businessmen. New laws were enacted that made it easier to track and punish organized crime.
From the 1970s onward, the American Mafia began experiencing a decline in power. Internal struggles, the arrests of key leaders, and increased police actions significantly weakened its structure. Many mafiosi ended up in prison, and organizations began facing competition from other criminal groups, such as Latin American and African-American gangs.
Modern Mafia
Today, the American Mafia still exists but faces numerous challenges. Traditional families, such as the Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese, are still active, but their influence is greatly reduced. Many Mafia leaders are imprisoned, and remaining organizations must contend with pressures from the authorities, rival groups, and societal changes. In the modern context, the Mafia often faces pressures from various directions, including technological advances that allow authorities to better monitor and investigate criminal activities. Digitalization, online gambling, and drug trafficking on the internet also present new challenges and opportunities for the Mafia.
Author: Matija Šerić
Featured image: AI
