Part 3/12:
As Sicilian immigrants ventured to the United States from the late 19th to early 20th century, many were driven by aspiration and desperation. By 1920, about four million Italians had migrated to America. While some sought an honest livelihood, others viewed the burgeoning nation as a ripe opportunity for exploitation, allowing organized crime to take root. In cities like New York, New Orleans, and Chicago, Sicilian gangs began to formalize their operations and embraced extortion as business as usual.