1700’s

For as long as there have been inhabitants on this earth, gangs and criminal behavior have been in existence plaguing our society until this very day. Numerous of criminal groups have continued to be a part of history for thousands of years, and their inceptions glide deep into America’s past and culture. Gangs aren’t a new occurrence and neither are the problems correlated with them. On the other hand, gangs have never reached a higher position in society as they do today.

The emergence of gangs in the world can be marked at the time when European immigrants flocked in droves to the eastern shores of North America in search for a better life. After reaching their destination, their supplies were rapidly exhausted and many were forced to borrow money from local merchants and colonization companies who demanded high interest rates. For many people, the life they lived became harder than they imagined and many died due to great poverty and diseases. People didn’t have any money to send their children back to their homeland, and there weren’t any relatives to care for them which became a major problem in the cities.

[3.]

Around the mid-1700s local churches in small towns administered orphanages. Seeing children walking aimlessly was normal and so widespread that the orphanages conception was to separate the children from society, and not search a home for them.

A student program was developed as a guideline to the country’s foster care programs to prepare the children joining into society. Boys starting from age ten were taken out of the orphanages and started working as blacksmiths, butchers, or shopkeepers. The owner of the business believed that once a boy reached manhood, he would be able to start managing his own business and become a prolific member of society. Community leaders discovered that the boys received minimum guidance and care. After the boys finished their daily work duties, they received no further guidance or supervision.

Juvenile misconduct was a major problem as the population of homeless children roaming the streets grew in almost every large city. Children and teenagers stole clothing and food. This resulted in a major problem and watchmen, at night, had difficulty supervising the young people from getting into trouble. Youth gangs were viewed more as a nuisance than a serious problem. Crime rates abruptly rose and by 1790, slave labor was in great supply and the student program was neglected.

While citizens of the country were obligated with increased taxes, established smuggling and robbery gangs were located in every main city. Adult gangs, like the Doane Gang, were prominent for performing treacherous acts of robbery. By the year 1971, the increase of gangs became a major problem. In Philadelphia, city officials discussed in a meeting how to deal with the city's gang problem. It was stated that countless bands revolved around youth activity in such criminal acts.

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