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The Real Gangs of New York Trivia Quiz

Test your knowledge about the history of gangs in New York City. Some questions are easier than others, while some are much harder. There are NO "Gangs of New York" movie questions in this quiz. Have fun!

A multiple-choice quiz by Yankeegirl742. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Yankeegirl742

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
280,583

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
619

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What gang was Hell-Cat Maggie associated with? Hint

The Dead Rabbits

The Chichesters

The Bowery Boys

The Plug Uglies

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What gang became practically extinct in 1859, thanks to the efforts of Detective Edwin O' Brien? Hint

The Daybreak Boys

The Hudson Dusters

The Whyos

The Charlton Street Gang

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. In the 1860s where was the base of the Hell's Kitchen Gang? Hint

Broadway and Lafayette

Spuyten Duyvil

10th Avenue and 42nd Street

8th Avenue and 34th Street

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. What gang led by two men named Danny, were considered the most powerful NYC gang between the Civil War and the 1890s? Hint

The Molasses Gang

Hartley Mob

The Whyos

The Battle Row Gang

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. After 1911, why did many gangsters have their pockets sewn shut? Hint

The National Firearms Act

The Harrison Act

The Sullivan Act

The Volstead Act

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Which was the first gang to have its members turn in typewritten reports when they executed contract jobs? Hint

The Five Pointers

The Eastmans

The Yankee Doodle Boys

The Hudson Dusters

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What gang employed a legendary thief called Ding Dong? Hint

The Hudson Dusters

The Boodle Gang

The Gophers

The Hip Sings

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Sister Ping was found guilty of money laundering and trafficking in random proceeds in 2005. What gang was she a member of? Hint

The Snakeheads

The Yakuza

BTK

Ghost Shadows

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What gang did David Thai start in the late 1980s? Hint

Tung On Gang

BTK

Ghost Shadows

The Green Dragons

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which gang leader was responsible for the murder of Richard Tassiello in the late 1970s? Hint

Mickey Featherstone

Jimmy Burke

Danny Grillo

Jimmy Coonan

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What gang was Hell-Cat Maggie associated with?

Answer: The Dead Rabbits

Women were seldom participants in gangs. Hell-Cat Maggie was an exception. Her teeth were filed to points and her nails were embellished with brass. She was a welcome companion in fights against the Bowery Boys in the 1830s and 1840s.

2. What gang became practically extinct in 1859, thanks to the efforts of Detective Edwin O' Brien?

Answer: The Daybreak Boys

The Daybreak Boys were the most desperate thugs of that period. They would scuttle a ship, crack a skull or cut a throat without hesitation. The members of the Daybreak Boys who were not arrested by the police returned to the Bowery and Five points where they joined other gangs.

3. In the 1860s where was the base of the Hell's Kitchen Gang?

Answer: 8th Avenue and 34th Street

The Hell's Kitchen Gang loved to plunder the piers. They stole what was to be worth an estimated million dollars worth of merchandise before the 1860s had ended.

4. What gang led by two men named Danny, were considered the most powerful NYC gang between the Civil War and the 1890s?

Answer: The Whyos

The Whyos were a crazy gang. They had a take out menu for there services that ranged from breaking someone's nose and jaw for $10 to killing someone for $100.
Their captains were Danny Lyons and Danny Driscoll, who both ended up getting hanged in the Tombs Prison.

5. After 1911, why did many gangsters have their pockets sewn shut?

Answer: The Sullivan Act

The Sullivan Act made the possession of an illegal firearm punishable with an automatic jail sentence. Gangsters sewed their pockets shut so weapons couldn't easily be planted on them.

6. Which was the first gang to have its members turn in typewritten reports when they executed contract jobs?

Answer: The Eastmans

The Eastmans were clean shaven, with manicured nails and pomaded hair. They almost always dressed in suits. There leader, Edward Osterman, owned a pet shop and had a love for pigeons and cats. It was said that he owned more than 100 cats and 500 pigeons.

7. What gang employed a legendary thief called Ding Dong?

Answer: The Hudson Dusters

The Hudson Dusters were a colorful bunch, more given to showing off than to mayhem. There major problem was that they were nearly all cocaine addicts. By 1916, they succumbed to their habit and were gone from the scene.

8. Sister Ping was found guilty of money laundering and trafficking in random proceeds in 2005. What gang was she a member of?

Answer: The Snakeheads

Sister Ping helped orchestrate the "Golden Venture" journey that ended with the ship running aground on Rockaway Beach. The ship was filled with 286 illegal would be immigrants from China at the time. Ten of them drowned when the ship crashed.

9. What gang did David Thai start in the late 1980s?

Answer: BTK

David Thai had a grand ambition of establishing himself as the leader of a vast multi-state network of young Vietnamese criminals. His plan never came to fruition. He was prosecuted and convicted of a plethora of crimes and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

10. Which gang leader was responsible for the murder of Richard Tassiello in the late 1970s?

Answer: Jimmy Coonan

Coonan was one of the leaders of the Westies. He was guilty of many other crimes also including extortion, mail fraud, drug dealing, loansharking, kidnapping and multiple murders. He had Tassiello killed over a debt of $1,250.

Source: Author Yankeegirl742

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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