History of Gangs
Beginning
• India
• 1200 AD
• Gang of criminals that roamed the country
pillaging towns along the way.
American Gangs
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New York City
1800’s
New immigrants
Formed gangs by country, ethnicity
Irish Gangs: Whyos, Dead Rabbits, Plug Uglies
Jewish Gangs: Monk Eastman
New York Five Points Gang
• 1890’s to 1900’s
• Led by Italian immigrant Paolo Vaccarelli aka
Paul Kelly
• Minor league to the Sicilian Mafia (La Cosa
Nostra)
• Al Capone was a notorious recruit. Became a
member of the James Street Gang (minor
leagues)
NY gangs
• Fight each other for territory.
• Before Civil War membership increased
because of the corruption in Government.
Al Capone
• Moved to Chicago in 1919 while being sought
by authorities in NY on a Gang murder.
Time line
• Mid 1800’s Chinese Gangs in NY
• By end of 19th Century wore distinctive jackets and clothing
• Mid 1920’s 1313 gangs in Chicago. 25,000 members
– No ethnic or cultural ties
• During Prohibition – made the term street gang popular –
organized, ruthless
– Botlegging, prostitution, gambling
– Called Mobs
• 1920-30’s increase in Hispanic Gangs in LA
Time line
• Early 1940’s Mexican Gangs formed along the
West Coast of U.S.
• 1940’s and 50’s Latin Kings and Vice Lords in
Chi-Town
• 1960’s civil strife African American street
gangs formed in Chicago, LA and NY.
– Savage Skulls, La Familia, Savage Nomads
• 1970’s Crips were so violent in LA that the
Bloods formed to challenge them.
Time line
• 1970’s and early 80’s Gangs formed national
alliances → national drug networks
• Late 80’s early 90’s drug importation from
Southeast Asia and Colombia at its peak.
– U.S. #1 drug consumer in the world.
• Mid 90’s crime rate decreases but gang
membership increases. Led to Supergangs
Gang Quiz
• It is against the law to be a member of a gang?
True or False
• According to a Tennessee Statute, a gang is
defined as ___________ or more people.
• Of the seven identifiers listed in the statute,
how many must a person have to be classified
as a gang member?
• List three reasons gangs use graffiti.
Gang Info.
• Symbol of lower income neighborhoods.
• African Americans, Asians and Hispanics made
up most of the gangs.
• Members are in the teens and twenties.
• Dress codes and code names.
Gangs to choose from.
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Bloods
Crips
MS-13
Aryan Brotherhood
LaNuestra Familia
18th Street Gang
• Black P(eace) Stone Nation
• Latin Kings
• Mexican Mafia
• Hell’s Angels
Assignment
• History of the gang.
• Are members made up of a specific race or ethnic
group?
• Membership Hierarchy
• Colors
• Clothes
• How do they become a member?
• Where are they? Areas, cities, states, etc.
• Any other relevant information.