Episode transcript:
In Episode 6, Pettengill moves away from the “pioneers” of organized crime to examine the reform movements that bridged the 19th and 20th centuries. He underscores the idea that while movements such as the push to purify the democratic process or the movement to ban alcohol did not directly target the world of organized crime, they certainly carried implications for it. On the other hand, as Pettengill notes, the reform movements laid a foundation for future generations of criminals to not only thrive but to take their enterprises to unprecedented levels. In sum, the reform movements of this era paved the way for the making of the mafia.