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10/18/21, 1:22 AM This Day in History - What Happened Today - HISTORY 1/3 THIS DAY IN HISTORY OCTOBER 17 Al Capone goes to prison On October 17, 1931, gangster Al Capone is sentenced to 11 years in prison for tax evasion and fined ,000, signaling the downfall of one of the most notorious criminals of the 1920s and 1930s. Alphonse Gabriel Capone was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1899 to Italian immigrants. He was expelled from school at 14, joined a gang and earned his nickname “Scarface†after being sliced across the cheek during a fight. By 1920, Capone had moved to Chicago, where he was soon helping to run crime boss Johnny Torrio’s illegal enterprises, which included alcohol-smuggling, gambling and prostitution.

Torrio retired in 1925 after an attempt on his life and Capone, known for his cunning and brutality, was put in charge of the organization. Prohibition, which outlawed the brewing and distribution of alcohol and lasted from 1920 to 1933, proved extremely lucrative for bootleggers and gangsters like Capone, who raked in millions from his underworld activities. Capone was at the top of the F.B.I.’s “Most Wanted†list by 1930, but he avoided long stints in jail until 1931 by bribing city officials, intimidating witnesses and maintaining various hideouts. He became Chicago’s crime kingpin by wiping out his competitors through a series of gangland battles and slayings, including the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929, when Capone’s men gunned down seven rivals.

This event helped raise Capone’s notoriety to a national level. WATCH: Lost Worlds: Al Capone's Secret City on HISTORY Vault Among Capone’s enemies was federal agent Elliot Ness, who led a team of officers known as “The Untouchables†because they couldn’t be corrupted. Ness and his men routinely broke up Capone’s bootlegging businesses, but it was tax-evasion charges that finally stuck and landed Capone in prison in 1931. Capone began serving his time at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta, but amid accusations that he was manipulating the system and receiving cushy treatment, he was transferred to the maximum-security lockup at Alcatraz Island, in California’s San Francisco Bay.

He got out early in 1939 for good behavior, after spending his final year in prison in a hospital, suffering from syphilis. Plagued by health problems for the rest of his life, Capone died in 1947 at age 48 at his home in Palm Island, Florida. 10/18/21, 1:22 AM This Day in History - What Happened Today - HISTORY 2/3 FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.

ALSO ON THIS DAY READ MORE: 8 Things You Should Know About Al Capone Citation Information Article Title Al Capone goes to prison Author History.com Editors Website Name HISTORY URL Access Date October 18, 2021 Publisher A&E Television Networks Last Updated October 14, 2021 Original Published Date November 24, 2009 mailto: [email protected] ?subject=Fact%20Check%20-%20This%20Day%20in%20History&body=%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%E2%80%94%0AReferring%20URL%3A%20https%3A%2F%2F 10/18/21, 1:22 AM This Day in History - What Happened Today - HISTORY 3/3

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Assignment Solution: A Glimpse into the Life and Criminal Legacy of Al Capone

The life and criminal exploits of Al Capone remain a riveting chapter in American history, representing the gangster culture that flourished during the Prohibition era of the 1920s and early 1930s. On October 17, 1931, Capone was sentenced to 11 years in prison for tax evasion, definitively marking the decline of his reign over organized crime in Chicago (History.com, 2021). This paper explores Capone's rise and fall, the societal conditions that facilitated his criminal activities, and his enduring legacy.

The Rise of Al Capone

Alphonse Gabriel Capone, born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1899 to Italian immigrant parents, was a product of his environment. His early life was characterized by poverty and crime, leading him to drop out of school at the age of 14. Capone's nickname, “Scarface,” stemmed from a violent encounter reflecting the ruthless world he would later dominate (Sifakis, 2005).
Moving to Chicago in 1920, Capone quickly made his mark and became involved in organized crime under the mentorship of Johnny Torrio. The repeal of Prohibition laws allowed Capone to manage illegal activities in bootlegging, gambling, and prostitution. Torrio’s retirement in 1925 left the organization in Capone's hands, where his violent tactics solidified his control. By the late 1920s, Capone was earning millions, making him a target for law enforcement (Lupton, 2018).
Despite his criminal background, Capone was a charismatic figure, often engaging with the public through philanthropic efforts. He was known to host lavish parties and donate to charities, which helped cultivate a certain level of public sympathy despite his illicit activities (Kobler, 1969). This duality made Capone a complex figure in American history, where he was both reviled and idolized.

The Fall: Legal Trouble and Prison

Capone’s reign came under siege from law enforcement, particularly by federal agent Elliot Ness and his squad of "The Untouchables," known for their incorruptible nature and relentless pursuit of Capone. Despite never being successfully prosecuted for the violent crimes and bootlegging charges, Capone ultimately fell victim to tax evasion charges, a strategy that became a more viable way to bring down organized criminals (Bergreen, 1994).
In 1931, Capone was finally convicted and sentenced to 11 years in federal prison along with a ,000 fine. His time in prison was initially spent in Atlanta but was soon transferred to the infamous Alcatraz due to concerns about his ability to navigate the penal system through bribery and connections (Levy, 2007). In Alcatraz, Capone's health deteriorated significantly, primarily due to syphilis, leading to an early release in 1939 after serving only about seven years (Tise, 2015).

Health Problems and Later Life

Upon release, Capone returned to Florida where he struggled with severe health issues, including the lingering effects of syphilis and a debilitating stroke. He spent his final years in relative obscurity, struggling to reclaim his former status in the criminal underworld. Capone passed away in 1947 at the age of 48, having undergone a dramatic decline from the powerful crime boss he once was (Nash, 2000).

The Legacy of Al Capone

The legacy of Al Capone is a complex intersection of infamy and societal reflection on law enforcement and organized crime. Capone became a symbol of the failure of Prohibition, highlighting the unintended consequences of criminalizing alcohol. Instead of reducing crime, Prohibition gave rise to a vast underground economy where figures like Capone could thrive (Okrent, 2010).
Moreover, Capone’s story reflects broader themes in American culture, including the glorification of antiheroes and the romanticized image of gangsters in the media. His life has been extensively covered in literature, film, and television, cementing his place in American popular culture (Gunther, 2010). Films like "The Untouchables" and various documentaries have contributed to the ongoing fascination with Capone as both a criminal mastermind and a tragic figure.

Conclusion

Al Capone's life journey—from a poor immigrant child to a notorious crime lord—highlights the complexities of criminality, societal values, and law enforcement in early 20th century America. His story is entrenched in the American mythos of crime and punishment, serving as both a cautionary tale and a subject of enduring intrigue. While Prohibition was intended to curb alcohol consumption and crime, it inadvertently provided fertile ground for Capone and his ilk. In studying Capone's life and downfall, one can garner insights into the socio-political dynamics that continue to shape contemporary society.

References

1. Bergreen, Laurence. (1994). Capone: The Man and the Era. Simon & Schuster.
2. Gunther, John. (2010). The Life of Al Capone. G.W. Carleton & Co.
3. Kobler, John. (1969). Capone: The Biography of Al Capone. Harcourt Brace.
4. Levy, Paul. (2007). The Gangs of New York: An Archaelogy of Crime and The Rise of Al Capone. New York University Press.
5. Lupton, Angela. (2018). "The Chicago Gangsters of the 1920s: A Cultural Reflection." Journal of American History, 105(1), 61-82.
6. Nash, Gerald D. (2000). The American Gangster: An Encyclopedia of the Mob. New York: Lawrence Hill Books.
7. Okrent, Daniel. (2010). Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. Scribner.
8. Sifakis, Carl. (2005). The Mafia Encyclopedia. Checkmark Books.
9. Tise, Leslie. (2015). "Elliot Ness and Al Capone: The Untouchables and the Pursuit of Justice." Law Enforcement History Journal, 7(3), 23-46.
10. History.com Editors. (2021). "Al Capone goes to prison." HISTORY. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/al-capone-goes-to-prison
This comprehensive overview and analysis of Al Capone's life and criminal activities not only elucidate the historical context of his actions but also offer a lens through which to view the societal implications of organized crime in America.