Gang Activity and Drug Operation
History of Gangs
Jaime J. Sopena
Richard Solita

There is a major misconception in America that gangs originated here in the United States. First we must define; what is a gang? Merriam-Webster defines is as these three variations; a group of criminals; group of young people who do illegal things together and who often fight against other gangs; a group of people who are friends and who do things together. Though it is a general definition I am willing to argue that it may be more than that. In America today we see gangs as territorial, with this being said it can be dated all the way back since Homer’s The Iliad with the Achaeans and their adversaries. But what this paper will focus on the history of gangs in America.
Street gangs have become predominantly larger through the previous centuries. Through the birth of this country “gangs” were made up of orphans who mustered together considering themselves like family to be stronger in as a tallied numbered force (Delaney 2006). There is evidence of “gangs” existing early America since the Revolutionary war, and since then researchers have recorded at least 500 gangs between 1760 and 1900(Gurr 1989). While this recorded research is accurate modern rendition of “gangs” became famous with such gangs like Forty Thieves and Dead Rabbits (Delaney 2006).
Before there was any law enforcement in early America citizens in New York were pleased with the level of public safety and were not concerned with crime because it wasn’t a real threat. Cities like New York had no police, rather seen service by the local watch to be sufficient. It all changed