The word mafia (Italian: [ˈmaːfja]) derives from the Sicilian adjective mafiusu, which, roughly translated, means "swagger", but can also be translated as "boldness" or "bravado". In reference to a man, mafiusu (mafioso in Italian) … See more

The American Mafia operates on a strict hierarchical structure. While similar to its Sicilian origins, the American Mafia's modern organizational structure was created by … See more

The following is a list of Mafia families that have been active in the U.S. Note that some families have members and associates working in other regions as well. The … See more

In several Mafia families, killing a state authority is forbidden due to the possibility of extreme police retaliation. In some rare strict cases, conspiring to commit such a murder is … See more

Origins: The Black Hand
The first published account of what became the Mafia in the United States dates to the spring of … See more

The Mafia initiation ritual to become a made man in the Mafia emerged from various sources, such as Roman Catholic confraternities and See more

During World War II
U.S. Naval Intelligence entered into an agreement with Lucky Luciano to gain his assistance in … See more