The Chicagoland Beer Wars: Violence and the Dilemma of Territorial Boundaries in Organized Crime

In Episode 12, Pettengill examines one of the greatest watershed moments in the history of organized crime, the Chicagoland Beer Wars. Pettengill notes the way in which the fierce competition for territory to distribute alcohol led to appalling violence. Furthermore, he examines how this violence will result in the notorious St. Valentines Day Massacre. Pettengill posits that this violence brought massive amounts of public scrutiny and, consequently, led a younger generation of criminals fundamentally rethink the operational procedures of organized crime.