The war in New York between immigrant groups to gain control of Italian organized crime would give rise to the Five Families. The history of each of the families is both similar because of their ties, but also different in relation to styles of leadership and the impact individuals had on the family. The rivalry between Italian immigrants from Sicily and Naples that had begun in Italy and was carried over to America would provide the cause for the birth of the Five Families. Gaetano (Tommy) Reina had been murdered; an event that many believe signaled the beginning of what became known as The Castellammarese War.
The violence that arose between these two groups, in which dozens of men were killed and wounded, was the first and only full-scale underworld battle for the control of New York and the East Coast. The conflicts of Chicago were turf wars between Irish and Italian gangs, and it was mainly interfamily fighting which occurred in Cleveland. In New York, two major factions opposed each other and fought for control not just of illegal liquor distribution, but of all criminal opportunities that were available: from extortion and numbers, to drugs and loan-sharking. The outcome of the war would determine the future of organized crime, not just in New York, but across the country as a whole, through the rise of the Organization created by Luciano. This made the conflict in New York unique because the resolution of the war was the growth of the five Mafia families that would truly organize crime. For years these Family groups would dominate the criminal activities beginning in New York and reaching out to all areas of the country. Their control of unions and corrupt officials created a power-base that would create a collection of wealth envied by many third world countries. And at the creation of this new underworld Gaetano Lucchese would be present to take part in the creation of a vast national and international criminal empire.
The man who benefited the most from the Castellammarese warfare was Luciano. He had been attempting to move his chess pieces in such a manner as to force the major crime lords, Masseria and Maranzano, to go to war allowing him an opportunity to collect his own forces to move against the victor of the bloody confrontation. There is some evidence that it was Luciano that planned to murder of Reina placing the blame on others to fuel the fires of war. He would also move in the background to make it possible for Lucchese to move up in the Family, due to his support of the grand Luciano plan. With the end of the Castellammarese Wars, Maranzano emerged the winner and began to design his version of a new Italian empire. Maranzano had become aware of the background moves of Luciano and put a plan into motion to eliminate Luciano and most of his following. Maranzano did not have knowledge of Lucchese's connections with Luciano and shared information of his plans for future murders. Lucchese was put into a position in which he was required to make the most important decision of his life, maintain an alliance with Maranzano or come down on the side of Luciano. With little problem, he made the decision and threw in with Luciano. He would send word to the gunmen sent to eliminate Maranzano when was the proper time to strike. Lucchese had made a decision that would allow him to become one of the founding fathers of the Commission. "Three Finger Tommy Brown", Lucchese was on his way up and had swam through the blood of gang wars and emerged to the other side to find a position of power.
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