History of Gangs in the United States

Introduction to Gangs in the United States

• Gangs emerged according to regional patterns:
  • Northeast (1783)
  • Midwest (1860s)
  • West (1900s)
  • South (1970s)

Northeast Gang Emergence

First Phase (1783 - 1860s)

• Forty Thieves Gang
  • First gang with acknowledged leadership.
  • Formed in 1826, NYC's Five Points District by local thieves and pickpockets.
• Gang conflicts:
  • Notable battles between Bowery and Five Points gangs.
• Boston gangs: Predominantly Irish and Catholic youth, less organized.

Second Phase (1860s - 1930s)

• Post-Civil War era saw rampant corruption.
• Tammany Hall:
  • Corruption influenced gang activity.
  • Initiatives against gangs led police to imprison over 200 leaders.

Third Phase (1930s - 1980s)

• Expansion of gang activity from Manhattan to Harlem, the Bronx, and Brooklyn.
• Rise of non-white gangs, particularly Black gangs in segregated communities.
• Newly formed gangs were:
  • More organized
  • Well armed
  • Involved in drug activities.

Midwest Gang Emergence

First Phase (1860s - 1920)

• Chicago gangs formed among White immigrant children (Polish, Irish, Italian).
• Black gangs emerged to escape Jim Crow.

Second Phase (1920s - 1940s)

• Increase of Mexican and Black populations during the Great Migration led to the formation of protective gangs.

Third Phase (1940s - 1980s)

• Rapid growth of Chicago's Black population.
• CHA housing developments (e.g., Robert Taylor Homes) became gang controlled areas.
• Current trends:
  • Larger gang sizes
  • More organization
  • Heavily involved in drug trade.

Modern Gangs

Folk Nation

• Emerged in the 1970s-1980s amid Chicago's gang wars.
• Major alliances include: La Raza, Spanish Cobras.
• Identifiers: Six-pointed star, pitchfork, Number 6.

People Nation

• Originated at the same time as Folk Nation.
• Includes Latin Kings, Vice Lords.
• Identifiers: Five-pointed star, crown, wear items to the left.

Latin Kings

• Formed in Chicago in the 1960s for Puerto Rican immigrant assistance.
• Highly organized with national, regional, local levels.
• Identifiers: Five-pointed crown, lion, colors (black, gold).

Crips and Bloods

• Crips: Formed in response to the Black Panther Party's failure; identifiers include blue and "BK".
• Bloods: Emerged for protection against Crips; identifiers include red and specific sports apparel.

MS-13 & 18th Street

• MS-13: Formed by Salvadoran immigrants in the 1980s, highly structured cliques; identifiers: devil's pitchfork.
• 18th Street: Founded by Mexican immigrants; identifiers: BEST, 666.

Gang Emergence in the South

• Emerged late due to various socio-economic factors.
• Prominent gang activity started in the 1970s in Miami related to drug trafficking.

Institutionalization of Gangs

• Gangs often form as a response to marginalization and social exclusion.
• Key goals include:
  • Territorial defense
  • Maintenance of honor
  • Achievement of prestige.

Cycles of Violence

• Process of violence:
  1. Formation of loosely organized gang.
  2. Identification of threats.
  3. Mobilization and escalation.
  4. Violent acts and retaliations ensue, perpetuating the cycle.

Role of Prison Gangs

• Prison gangs: Self-perpetuating criminal organizations formed for inmate protection.
• Prisons have inadvertently strengthened gang cohesiveness by cracking down on street gangs.

Conclusions

• Gang growth in the U.S. results from:
  • Macrohistorical (racism/prejudice)
  • Macrostructural (immigration/poverty) processes.
• Gangs are institutionalized through:
  • Cycles of violence
  • Mass imprisonment.

Next Class

• Topic continuation about "Gangs: the Basics".
• Reminder for students to have a good week!