Alphonse Gabriel Capone, more commonly known as Al Capone, was one of the most notorious
gangers of this time. He owned and operated the Chicago Outfit, the largest and most powerful gang
involved in smuggling and bootlegging liquor in the 1920s. Al Capone is the reason why we imagine
gangsters wearing the pin stripe suit and sporting the greased back hair. His image and persona is used
to portray gang life in many books and films. He is ultimately the most famous gangster of all time.
Moreover, Al Capone has influenced and changed America in many ways.
The 1920s was full of new customs and ideas. New music, ways of living, and ideals engulfed this
time period. This decade was also a decade of economic growth and cultural revolution. People could
afford to buy homes for the first time, and many more kids were going to school than in the past. Coined
as ‘The Roaring Twenties’ or ‘The Jazz Age,’ this decade is often viewed optimistically and in a positive
light. Although this is true in some cases, there was much more going on in the 1920s then the
Charleston and the Harlem Renaissance. Highly influenced by Prohibition, gang life in the 1920s was
bustling. These gangs looked to make large profits bootlegging alcohol, which was in very high demand.
Al Capone was one of the men with that idea in mind, making money.
Born on January 17th, 1899, Capone was born to Italian immigrants. They lived in Brooklyn for
most of Capone’s younger years, and this is when he began his career. Capone dropped out of school at
the age of 14, and then worked many odd jobs. During this time he was heavily influenced by the
gangster Johnny Torrio. Capone would go on to say that Torrio was he mentor figure. Capone was
involved in many small gangs in Brooklyn, until finally he joined the notorious Five Points Gang. After
being in Brooklyn for many years, he was called to Chicago by Torrio, who was there resolving family
problems. Torrio and Capone saw many business opportunities in Chicago by smuggling alcohol. They
then decided to set up shop there for good. After being severely injured after an assassination attempt,
Torrio left the reins to Capone. Al Capone then made his gang infamous for being rich, big and extremely
violent. After a long and bloody rein, he was sentenced to a 10 year prison sentence in 1929 for tax
evasion. His physical and mental state began to deteriorate after he was released in 1931 due to
neurosyphilis. Capone then had a stroke, which he began to recover from but died due to contracting
pneumonia. In spite of dying at the age of 48, he had left his impression on the country that would never
be forgotten.
This impression would not be forgotten because of the ways he had changed and influenced
America. Capone’s Outfit, among other gangs, was one of the main reasons Prohibition was ended in
1933. Law enforcement realized it could not control the smuggling and bootlegging of alcohol, and the
violence that erupted from it. The only way the violence could be stopped was to make alcohol legal
once more. The government also came to the realization that Americans were not going to stop
consuming alcohol. Al Capone also greatly influenced the media for years to come. Almost every stereo
type that we give 1920s gangsters comes from Al Capone’s image. Capone also has influenced every
gang and gangster that arose after him. Since he was the best, future gangsters will always look up to
the most infamous gangster of all time, Alphonse Gabriel Capone.
Al Capone has and will go down as the most famous gangster of all time. Over his career he
made a name for himself by killing, stealing, and being ruthless. He has changed the way we view
gangsters and how they lived. Capone has also changed the way we view justice and law enforcement.
His rise and decline also showed us that no man is invincible and that in time, justice will be served.