The bootlegging business during the 1920s caused many infamous mobsters to become extremely wealthy. Bootlegging is defined as the illegal traffic of liquor in violation of legislative restrictions on its sale, transportation, and manufacturing. Prohibition was a movement that attempted to create a "healthier" country in America by terminating the sale and production of alcohol. However, this movement was highly unsuccessful, as it accidentally promoted the illegal production and sale of liquor. This illegal production offered an immense profit, if the liquor was sold to the right buyer. Therefore, many mobsters began to fabricate crime rings in large cities such as New York and Chicago, which could assist in the transportation of illegal liquor. However, the direct relationship between bootlegging and organized crime rings is not obvious. This leads to the question, "How did New York City bootlegging in the 1920s lead to the development of American organized crime?" New York City bootlegging in the 1920s lead to the development of American organized crime by destroying legal jobs, creating black market violence, diverting resources from enforcement of other laws, and increasing prices that people had to pay for prohibited goods. By executing these examples of harmful actions, bootlegging soon became one of the most dangerous methods of crime in America. Many men and women were killed as a result of an immense amount of bootlegging feuds. These feuds took place all over the country, and sometimes they even tore apart families and friendships.