Al Capone
Public Enemy Number One
Bio
- Born Jan. 17, 1899
- Died Jan. 25, 1947
- Famous Gangster of Chicago
- Has a scar on his left cheek from a slash in a fight: earned him lifetime nickname of Scarface
- Owned a mansion in Miami, FL
- Had a son named Albert
Mugshots of Capone
Capone with a cigar and big smile
Al Capone
Coming of Age
Al Capone's ethnic background from his family influenced his choices and how he was treated. Capone was born into an immigrant family from Italy on Jan. 17, 1899. He went to school, but quit after sixth grade. Then Al joined a street gang, and worked his way up. In 1920 Johnny Torrio, the leader of the gang, offered the chance for Al to join Torrio in Chicago. Capone accepted and joined the Colosimo Mob. The Prohibition Amendment was being enforced at the time Al went to Chicago. This Amendment made selling and the distribution of beer and liquor, however, the people still wanted it. The mob viewed this industry as a chance to get money.
Capone became boss in 1925, when Torrio was wounded in an assassination attempt, then surrendered, and retired in Brooklyn. Then Al built a fearsome reputation, being ruthless to rival gangs. Capone’s mob committed numerous crimes. On June 16, 1931, Capone pled guilty to tax evasion and prohibition charges. After the trial, he was sentenced to eleven years in jail, and served them at in Atlanta and on Alcatraz. Then Al went into a reclusive life until he died on Jan. 25, 1947. There comes a time when you make choices, and some things influence them. Unfortunately, for Al, some of these choices were not good ones.
Analysis
Al was often discriminated at school because of his family background. Which led to him quitting school, knowing that wasn't a good chance of getting a good life because of his ethnicity. So he decided to participate in gang activity. After ten years Al was offered the chance to go to Chicago. This choice to go with Torrio affected who Capone became and the consequences that he experienced in his life.
Works Cited
"Catching a Killer." Scholastic Scope 4 Apr. 2011: 14-15. SIRS Discoverer. Web. 7 Apr. 2014. <http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000312934>.
"Famous Cases and Criminals." The Federal Bureau of Investigation. FBI, n.d. Web. 8 Apr. 2014.<http://webpath.follettsoftware.com/resource/viewurl?encodedUrl=QA3e1ZmfGQTyUhHafxGQj0wFKswpv3kZ93Nwu3FSXr4&version=1&appsignature=Destiny&appversion=11.0.4.2+%28AU2%29>.
Goldfarb, Joel. "Al Capone." Encyclopedia of World Biography. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Student Resource Center Junior. Web. 8 Apr. 2014. <http://find.galegroup.com/srcx/tab.do?sgHitCountType=None&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28SU%2CNone%2C9%29Al+capone%24&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&sort=Relevance&inPS=true&userGroupName=auro18260&prodId=SRC-4&tabID=T001&subjectParam=Locale%2528en%252C%252C%2529%253AFQE%253D%2528su%252CNone%252C9%2529Al%2Bcapone%2524&searchId=R2&sgCurrentPosition=0&displaySubject=&prevSubject=&searchType=BasicSearchForm>.
Helmer, William J. "Al Capone." World Book Online Reference Center. World Book, n.d. Web. 7 Apr. 2014. <http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar093700&st=al+capone>.