History Commons^™

Mob Rule Vs. Progressive Reform, Ethan Moon Barness

Senior Projects Spring 2016

This essay examines the role of organized crime in local, state and federal politics during the 1920s era of Prohibition. More specifically, it interrogates how these relationships affected the social, political, cultural and economic climate of New York City. The three organizations that will be examined are (1) the municipal political machine at Tammany Hall, (2) the Italian­American Mafia and (3) the federal organizations established as a result of the Progressive Reform Movement. Primary evidence consists of a series of articles from the N ew York Times and other accounts from individuals involved with any of these three interest groups. …