Final answer:
The roots of Organized Crime before Prohibition can be found in the patron-client networks of urban America, which flourished as a result of the unintended consequences of Prohibition laws, including the rise of speakeasies and underground empires like those led by Al Capone in cities such as Chicago.
Step-by-step explanation:
The roots of Organized Crime (OC) can be traced back to the politics of urban America before Prohibition, within a patron-client network. During the Prohibition Era, Progressive reformers aimed to eliminate what they perceived as the evils of alcohol, but their efforts had unintended consequences. Instead of suppressing alcohol consumption, Prohibition led to the rise of a new subculture, which included illegal activities such as bootlegging, operating clandestine saloons called “speakeasies,” and engaging in the organized crime of trafficking liquor. Cities like Chicago became known for their high levels of corruption and crime, becoming a haven for crime bosses like Al Capone, who built underground empires profiting from the illegal alcohol trade. The selective enforcement of Prohibition laws also revealed a divide in the justice system, favoring the affluent while targeting the poor, women, and minorities.