Al Capone Al Capone is often known as public enemy #1 or gangster #1, due to his successful career as a mobster.

He gained his fame and fortune during the era of prohibition. Capone often saw himself as providing a service/product to the public, which is the reason why others saw him as a Robin-Hood figure rather than a villain. Many have only heard the public side of Capones life; not many people know the personal side. He opened up soup kitchens, provided the community with a way to relax, and paid for numerous medical bills of victims of his conflicts. Yet he also executed many rival members of gangs, and extorted the same community he was helping through bringing rampant crime to the city. Hero or villain, either way, there is one fact that cannot be denied about Capone; he was a gangster who was outstanding at what he did. Prohibition allowed Capone to start his long career in organized crime. This was done through his close monopolization of the illegal alcohol market within Chicago. Although prohibition was established to fight the widespread alcohol addiction that was growing rather quickly, it was a moral campaign. It was a semi-realistic ideal to implement prohibition, but not in our nation. America needed alcohol for its pastime consumptions, as there was simply too much appeal to drinking, and citizens would simply o underground or to another ill-monitored place to satisfy their need. It has become common knowledge over time, that a rule that prohibits a widely-liked act psychologically gives people more motivation to break said rule. The project was simply too ambitious, and there was no real way for the government to completely control the alcohol market. This is why Capone jumped right into this business. Al Capone didnt just bring death and crime to Chicago and other areas he operated in. He opened the first soup kitchen and poor house for those in low-income areas. Capone also aided the community through supporting other immigrant minorities through providing places to sleep and eat, similar to the soup kitchens he established. Finally, Capone was known to help those hurt by his conflicts, giving him a more positive and hero-like image; an image similar to Robin Hood, a figure who took from the rich and gave to the poor. In conclusion, Capones good deeds do not excuse his violence, corruption and criminal behavior. Capone was responsible for the Valentines Day massacre, an event where he ordered 7 rival gang members against a wall, and executed them all with tommy-gun fire. These murders were barbaric and cannot be forgiven through charity. Capone also paid off city officials, spreading corruption within the government. Consequently, this spread crime throughout the community, and hurt it more than Capone helped it.