The Significance of Prohibition on the Development of the American Mafia

In the years preceding 1920, America was in a state of disarray. The industrial revolution had finally hit the New World, and in a pursuit of economic and social prosperity, American citizens all over the nation left their small towns for the busy metropolitan life. At the same time, a massive influx of immigrants from Europe arrived in America (Bailey 749). The combination of these two factors contributed to an increase in local crime; dire working conditions and low pay forced the poor and hungry to utilize law-breaking as a way out. However, it wasn't until the slap of the 18th amendmen…