The Mafia: A Brief History

Was it only in Sicily that the Mafia worked?

Originally yes, but many Mafia members did immigrate to the USA at the tale end of the 19th century. The majority did try to start a new (honest) life but some of them decidedly brought the way of the Mafia with them.

In New York, in the 1890’s a chief of Police tried to put a lot of pressure on one Sicilian family and ended up murdered for his trouble. When it went to trial the family were able to bribe many of the witnesses. The court had no choice but to acquit them. The problem didn’t end there though. The result meant that much anti-Italian feelings were formed and a group of local New Yorkers took the law into their own hands and killed sixteen of the Mafia men involved in the case.

In the early parts of the 20th century, the Mafia quickly spread across the USA. By this time there were five families in New York alone, fighting over which should take full control. Prohibition worked in the favour of the Mafia as it was a great way to increase profits, by illegally selling it to bars and hotels.

By the early 1930’s the violence between different Mafia families reached a peak. Bosses and underbosses were being killed on a regular basis. Families started to not know what was going to happen next. But one man decided to try to do something about it.

Charles Luciano, nicknamed ‘Lucky’, held a very high position in the Cosa Nostra and decided that a multi-family commission should be set up to control all Mafia activities throughout the USA. All five families from New York were represented at the commission meeting in Chicago where the idea was put down and cemented. (Interestingly, one of the men at the meeting was Al Capone) The commission decided that any large-scale activity must first get permission and be approved by the commission. The meetings were to be held on a five yearly basis.

(A Mafia Don: Hard at work! Image Source)

Do the Mafia still exist in the 21st century?

Oh yes. In the USA it is claimed that the commission talked about above is still in existence although it should be pointed out that it is nowhere near as powerful as it was back then. Many Mafia families are still in existence but seem to be so much more quiet than their ‘heyday’.

Back in Sicily, the Mafia is alive and kicking (or shooting should we say). As recently as 2004 there was an incident in Sicily that showed the world the Mafia were still going strong. Salvatore Giuliano (the boss of the Camorra family) was being tracked down by Mafia hitmen. When the hit-men caught up with him and began firing, Giuliano grabbed an innocent bystander, Annalisa Durante (a 14 year old) and used her as a human shield. Durante was shot in the head, she died after being in a coma for several days.