St.Valentine's Day Massacre

“Nobody shoots like that except Al Capone” said Bugsy Moran. The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre was a gruesome day in Chicago. During the 1920s it was illegal to sell, buy, and transport alcohol underneath the 18th amendment. Even though alcohol was illegal it did not stop organized crimes from creating secret clubs where they could sell alcohol. Al Capone wanted to take over all the illegal alcohol business after his buddy retired. When Al Capone found out Bugsy Moran was doing better in business he caused the bloodiest incident in history to happen.

It was a symbolic day of violence between the gangs. The St Valentine’s Day Massacre took place when four of Capone’s men (under Capone’s order) walked into a Moran gang bootlegging facility disguised as policemen. When they walked in Capone’s men ordered Moran’s men to line up against the wall. Moran’s men did only to be surprised and defenseless when they were shot with Tommy guns. Capone wasn’t with his men at the time, and Moran wasn’t with his men at the time either.

Due to prohibition not being popular, organized crime filled the need for alcohol and became more socially acceptable. However, the St Valentine’s Day Massacre was so horrifying that people became fearful of organized crime. Today you have people/gangs selling all types of drugs illegally. Though the St Valentine’s Day Massacre was the bloodiest incident in history we’re still affected by its historical power today.

by Tiffany Keith

Work sitation: Benson, Sonia, et al. "St. Valentine's Day Massacre." UXL Encyclopedia of U.S. History, vol. 7, UXL, 2009, pp. 1470-1471. U.S. History in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3048900575/UHIC?u=pl2634&xid=d9bd4f45. Accessed 1 Feb. 2017

“Only Capone kills like that!” is a supposed quote of “Bugs” Moran after six of his member were shot and killed. In one of the most gruesome fallouts of prohibition. The St. Valentine's day massacre.

After many years of bloody competition between Al Capone and “Bugs” Moran. Capone supposedly ordered the demise of Moran’s gang. So on February 14,1929 in Chicago. When Moran’s team was expecting a liquor shipment. Four of Capone’s men dressed as police officers. Entered Moran’s facility and ordered the men inside to line up against the wall. In total 7 men were shot and killed, 6 were part of Moran’s gang and one was a bystander. Supposedly with multiple types of guns. Moran was not present during the massacre.

In conclusion one of the most gruesome fallouts of prohibition. Still has its effect today with organized crime such as the Russian and Italian mafia and the drug trade. Bring the same problems as this massacre has shown.

By: Madison Schmidt

Works Cited

Benson, Sonia, et al. "St. Valentine's Day Massacre." UXL Encyclopedia of U.S. History, vol. 7, UXL, 2009, pp. 1470-1471. U.S. History in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3048900575/UHIC?u=pl2634&xid=d9bd4f45. Accessed 23 Jan. 2017.

"St. Valentine's Day Massacre." Violence in America, edited by Ronald Gottesman and Richard Maxwell Brown, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999. U.S. History in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/BT2350011396/UHIC?u=pl2634&xid=d295968c. Accessed 23 Jan. 2017.

The massacre took place at a Cartage Company. Four men were disguised as police men and ordered Moran's men who were his associates to line up against a sturdy wall. The four men then shot Moran’s associates against the wall killing six of seven. The six associates who died were Albert Weinshank, John May, two brothers, Pete and Frank Gusenberg, James Clark, and Adam Heyer. Reinhardt Schwimmer was the seventh victim and survived the massacre. It's known that he was not involved with the gang but enjoyed their company.

People believed that Al Capone’s gang were dressed in police uniforms to disguise themselves and slaughtered Moran’s gang members against the walls and drove away in a so called fake police car. The murders were unsolved but people intend to suspect that Al Capone was convicted for it. George Moran would have suspected that his associates were slaughtered by him. He believed it was him because he knew that Capone's gang would only kill people like that.

But this led to being unsolved and was still in question.

Saint Valentine's Day Massacre was a gang war between two gangs, Al capone and George Moran. On February 14, 1929, two members fought over the selling of alcohol and how much money they obtained. The Valentine's Day Massacre took many historians, filmmakers, and fiction writers interests from where it started. Photos of the massacre were available for people to see and was known for the 1920s Chicago-gangster rule. Bugs Moran was the only leading gang member who was not involved when the massacre took place. His gang has quickly lost power in Chicago. People blamed Al Capone’s gang for the cause of the killing but there was no real evidence. No one was prosecuted for the crimes and the murders remained unsolved. Movies that were related to the massacre were getting people's attention and were made for that purpose. Some of the movies were “Scarface” and “The Untouchables”.

by Jansivanh Ratjavong

Works Cited

"St. Valentine's Day Massacre." Violence in America, edited by Ronald Gottesman and Richard Maxwell Brown, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1999. U.S. History in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/BT2350011396/UHIC?u=pl2634&xid=d295968c. Accessed 23 Jan. 2017