Historical Analysis of an Organized Crime Group Worksheet
The United States has seen the rise of multiple and various crime groups, organizations, and gangs, many with roots in other countries, such as Italy, Mexico, and El Salvador, as well as groups with their origins in the American prison system. These groups include the Five Families in New York: the Bonanno, Colombo, Genovese, Gambino, and Lucchese families; the Mexican Mafia; MS-13; and the Gangster Disciples.
Use your textbook, Organized Crime (11th ed.), and outside research to complete each section of this worksheet.
Select an organized crime group in the United States from the readings or additional resources. You are not limited to the groups discussed in Ch. 2 of Organized Crime (11th ed.). Complete a historical analysis of the chosen organized crime group by completing the following essay and timeline.
Section 1: Crime Group Essay
Write a 350- to 525-word essay below in which you discuss the various business interests over time of your chosen organized crime group.
Determine and explain the group’s structure and operating methods. Explain your answer.
Essay response:
Section 2: Historical Timeline
Use the timeline template below to create a timeline of the origins, key events, people, and activities of your chosen crime group, including a brief history of this group’s evolution in the United States.
Analyze the relationship of your group to its past and to its current role in Prohibition, drug syndicates, political corruption, and other illicit activities.
