Introduction
The Sicilian Mafia, known as La Cosa Nostra ("Our Thing"), has a long and complex history in the United States. Born out of the feudal system in 19th-century Sicily, the Mafia emerged as a powerful organized crime syndicate that would eventually extend its reach across the Atlantic. In this article, we‘ll delve into the origins of the Sicilian Mafia in America, its rise to power, and its ongoing impact on society.
The Origins of the Mafia in Sicily
To understand the rise of the Mafia in America, it‘s essential to examine its roots in Sicily. In the mid-19th century, Sicily was a largely agrarian society with a weak central government and a feudal system that concentrated power in the hands of wealthy landowners. As the feudal system began to crumble, a new class of smallholders emerged, but they faced significant challenges, including banditry, lack of law enforcement, and the need for protection (Dickie, 2004).
In this context, the Mafia emerged as a network of private enforcers and arbitrators, offering protection and justice to those who could afford it. As historian John Dickie notes, "The Mafia was not a centralized organization, but rather a collection of local power structures that shared a common code of honor and a willingness to use violence to protect their interests" (Dickie, 2004, p. 23).
The Mafia Crosses the Atlantic
As economic conditions in Sicily deteriorated in the late 19th century, many Sicilians sought a better life in America. Between 1880 and 1920, over 4 million Italians immigrated to the United States, with a significant portion coming from Sicily (Library of Congress, n.d.). Among these immigrants were members of the Mafia, who saw an opportunity to expand their criminal enterprises in the New World.
One of the first known Mafia members to arrive in America was Giuseppe Esposito, who fled Sicily in 1881 after committing several high-profile murders. Esposito‘s arrival marked the beginning of a new era for the Mafia, as more Sicilian criminals followed in his footsteps (Raab, 2005).
The Mafia in New Orleans
The port city of New Orleans became a major hub for Sicilian immigrants and, consequently, for the Mafia. The city‘s corrupt political system, lack of effective law enforcement, and thriving vice industries created an ideal environment for organized crime to flourish (Kurtz & Kurtz, 1991).
By the late 1800s, Mafia families like the Matrangas and the Provenzanos had established a strong presence in New Orleans, engaging in extortion, gambling, and violence to maintain their power. In 1890, New Orleans Police Chief David Hennessy was assassinated, allegedly by Mafia members. The ensuing public outrage led to the lynching of 11 Italian immigrants, highlighting the growing tension between the Mafia and the broader American society (Nelli, 1976).
The Rise of the Five Families in New York
As the 20th century dawned, the Mafia‘s influence began to spread to other major cities, particularly New York. Two powerful Sicilian crime bosses, Joseph Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano, emerged as rival leaders, each vying for control over the city‘s underworld. The power struggle culminated in the Castellammarese War, a bloody conflict that ended with Maranzano‘s victory and his establishment as the "Boss of Bosses" (Critchley, 2009).
Under Maranzano‘s rule, La Cosa Nostra took on a more structured form, with a hierarchical system of crime families and a strict code of conduct. However, his reign was short-lived; in 1931, he was assassinated on the orders of Charles "Lucky" Luciano, a rising star in the Genovese crime family (Raab, 2005).
Luciano went on to create the Commission, a governing body comprised of the bosses of the five major New York families: Genovese, Gambino, Lucchese, Colombo, and Bonanno. This new structure helped to minimize conflicts between families and streamline their criminal activities, ushering in an era of unprecedented prosperity for the Mafia (Maas, 1968).
The Economic Impact of the Mafia
The Mafia‘s influence on the American economy was significant, though difficult to quantify due to the secretive nature of their operations. In the mid-20th century, the Mafia controlled a vast network of illegal enterprises, including gambling, loan sharking, and labor racketeering. They also infiltrated legitimate businesses, such as construction, waste management, and the garment industry (President‘s Commission on Organized Crime, 1986).
A 1986 report by the President‘s Commission on Organized Crime estimated that the Mafia‘s annual income from illegal activities was between $26.9 billion and $134.5 billion (President‘s Commission on Organized Crime, 1986, p. 36). While these figures are subject to debate, they underscore the immense economic power wielded by the Mafia at its peak.
The Mafia in Popular Culture
The Mafia‘s influence on American culture extends far beyond the realm of crime. The public‘s fascination with the Mafia has been reflected in countless books, movies, and television shows, from "The Godfather" to "The Sopranos." These depictions have often romanticized the Mafia, portraying its members as charismatic antiheroes bound by a code of honor (Larke-Walsh, 2010).
While such portrayals have been criticized for glamorizing organized crime, they have also served to shed light on the Mafia‘s impact on American society. As cultural historian George De Stefano argues, "The Mafia has become a metaphor for the dark side of the American dream, the corruption that underlies the success story of immigrant assimilation" (De Stefano, 2006, p. 3).
The Fight Against the Mafia
Law enforcement agencies have waged a long and difficult battle against the Mafia, employing a range of strategies to disrupt their criminal activities. In the 1960s, the testimony of Joseph Valachi, a soldier in the Genovese family, provided a crucial breakthrough. Valachi‘s revelations about the structure and operations of La Cosa Nostra helped to galvanize public opinion and spur new legislation, such as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act of 1970 (Maas, 1968).
The RICO Act proved to be a powerful tool in the fight against organized crime, allowing prosecutors to target entire criminal enterprises rather than just individual members. In the following decades, a series of high-profile Mafia prosecutions, such as the Mafia Commission Trial of 1985-1986, helped to weaken the power of the Five Families and disrupt their operations (Jacobs, Panarella, & Worthington, 1994).
The Mafia in the 21st Century
Despite the successes of law enforcement, the Mafia has proven to be a resilient and adaptable adversary. In recent years, the Mafia has diversified its criminal activities, moving into new areas such as cybercrime, identity theft, and prescription drug trafficking (FBI, 2021).
The Genovese family, in particular, remains a significant force in organized crime, with recent indictments revealing their continued involvement in extortion, loansharking, and illegal gambling (U.S. Department of Justice, 2021). As the Mafia continues to evolve and adapt to the digital age, law enforcement agencies must remain vigilant and develop new strategies to combat their criminal enterprises.
Conclusion
The history of the Sicilian Mafia in America is a complex and fascinating tale of power, violence, and resilience. From its origins in the feudal system of 19th-century Sicily to its current incarnation in the digital age, the Mafia has left an indelible mark on American society and culture.
By examining the rise and reign of La Cosa Nostra through a historian‘s lens, we gain a deeper understanding of the forces that have shaped organized crime in the United States and the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in combating it. As we look to the future, it is clear that the legacy of the Sicilian Mafia will continue to inform our understanding of crime, justice, and the American experience.
References
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U.S. Department of Justice. (2021). Genovese organized crime family member and associates indicted on racketeering charges. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/genovese-organized-crime-family-member-and-associates-indicted-racketeering-charges
