SC+2016+Irish+Mob

Andre Trejo Cultural

The Irish Mob has existed since the early 1800’s and is looked at as one of the oldest American criminal organizations. It is also the oldest criminal group in American history (Wiki). The Irish mob is also one of the most wide spreading criminal organizations in the world. During the prohibition era the Irish mafia was powerful unlike other criminal organizations. Since the Irish mob was so powerful during the prohibition era, they also gained other criminal aspects. Since alcohol was illegal bootlegging was brought into the Irish mob. They were able to sell, make, and move alcohol illegally. The Irish mob kept the Italian mob at bay until leadership and infighting in the mob brought it to its downfall (Wiki). From 1860 to the early 1900s, the Irish Mob maintained its power by continuing to do criminal activities such as gambling and bootlegging. The Irish mob began to run into major conflict with the Italian mob in the early twentieth century in cities like Boston, Chicago and New York. Both criminal organizations came into conflict when the Irish Mob war began. The name was given because of the constant battles and conflict with other mobs (Wiki). The Irish mob did not just fall to other criminal organizations, but to the way the government went upon these groups. Changes in the government started in the 1970’s making it difficult for the mob to function (reddit).

Reddit.com Historians. Irish Mafia Downfall. Reddit.com, web. 5 Jan. 2016.

“Irish Mob.” Wikipedia, The free Encyclopedia. Jul 2010. Web. 5 Jan. 2016

Austin Henry Historical

(The Wiki wasn't letting me insert a picture)

In the mid 1800’s, The Great Famine hit Ireland, causing a heavy emigration to America. A big portion of the Irish community settled in the Boston and New York area, and many found that it was hard to get back on their feet. A History Channel documentary explains, “For a certain percentage of the slum dwellers of the 5 Points, crime they thought was the quickest way to the American Dream” (Dead Rabbit). The 5 points area is located in New York City and is known to be the “breeding place of crime” (Dead Rabbit). People had a hard time getting out of the lives they came from in Ireland so people soon turned to crime so they could achieve the so called “American Dream.” Gangs soon emerged and grew in size as time went on. They got more and more complex along with their crimes and eventually became part of the political system in America. Businessmen and Politicians began getting involved with the gangs of the community. In an article by the Encyclopedia of Chicago it states, “In Irish communities, the sponsorship of gangs by politicians and businessmen transformed them into ‘athletic clubs’… Based in saloons and clubhouses, and often claiming the membership of over a hundred men ranging from their late teens to early thirties, these clubs ensured the elections of their patrons by stuffing ballot boxes and intimidating voters” (Diamond). Residents were terrorized and forced into voting for their sponsor. With the help of these gangs, the politicians soon found their way into the government. Individuals who chose to take part of crime eventually achieved the American Dream or ended up dead. In the end, money seemed to be the sole reason for these gangs to emerge in the first place.

“Dead Rabbit Gang Battles Bowery Boys.” 2012. The History Channel. Web. 5 January 2016. Diamond, Andrew J. "Gangs." Encyclopedia of Chicago. Web. 5 January 2016.

Lexy Maldonado

Aim:

The Irish mob who existed within New York formed to go against the Italian mob(gangs) who advanced along the Red Hook waterfront. The irish mob would later be known as “White Hand Gang”. It’s stated the gang survived off “primarily collected tributes from incoming and outgoing barge and warf owners as well as forced payment of longshoreman”(The White Hand). White hand gang members had been known to be extremely aggressive with each other as well as their rival gangs. The gang never committed to much because the lack of leadership that went on in the gang. The Boss of the gang had been known as “Dock Boss” it’s said members would initially kill each other for the position. As the threats from the italian mob increased in new york the threats followed into south boston. The boston irish gang, arose through prohibition as well as “regular” crime related activities. The most successful irish gang was led by James Mclean. Mcleans right hand man was Whitey bulger, together the gang of twenty-one came about through fixing the horse races that were held. They avoided public attention as well as scrunity after the activation of the RICO operation. Although the gang was being trialed. it Initially fell apart after the 2000s due to lack of evidence and uncooperative witnesses.

Wikipedia contributors. "Irish Mob." //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 5 Jan. 2016. Web. 5 Jan. 2016. “The White Hand Gang.” La cosa Nostra. N.a, N.a. Web. 05 Jan. 2016.

Keanu- Audience: The Irish Mob is consisted of people who are more Irish. The audience of the Irish Mob are people who would want to join the Irish Mob. People who are fairly poor and uneducated would typically join the Mob because they have nothing else. It has been stated that “The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have also been the base for several colourful Irish- American gangsters” (Wikipedia). Minneapolis and St. Paul are the main bases where the mobsters would be and where they would mostly recruit from. Irish mobsters would mostly be recruited if they have nothing else in life which brings to a life as a mobster. Their way to get out of a miserable life is joining the Irish Mob because it was their way out in their time. They would join to have protection over their men like a brotherhood. The Irish Mob would protect their men like they were their own blood. The main audience of the Irish Mob is young mobsters who have nothing in life such as poor education and is fairly poor.

"Irish Mob." //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. Jul 2010. Web. 5 Jan. 2016.