Final answer:
The need for a new way to share spoils of underground activity without internal conflict led to the beginning of the organized crime syndicate during the Prohibition Era.
Step-by-step explanation:
La cosa nostra found a need for a new way to share the many spoils of underground activity without killing each other off in the process; this was the beginning of the organized crime syndicate. The era of Prohibition marked a significant expansion in organized crime, with crime bosses like Al Capone establishing underground empires through a variety of illegal operations. These operations not only included bootlegging, which dominated the period due to the prohibition of alcohol but also extended to other forms of criminal activities such as prostitution, gambling, loan sharking, and even murder. Crime syndicates seized the opportunity to profit from the illegal manufacture and sale of liquor, which led to a vast increase in the power and influence of organized crime. In major cities like Chicago, these gangs were deeply embedded, running operations that pulled money away from lawful businesses, contributing to the cities being known for corruption and crime. The underground gangs went to great lengths to conceal the source of their income, for example, by laundering their revenue through various businesses, making it challenging for law enforcement to track and prosecute their illegal activities.