In 'Gangs of NY based on true story', the first key element is the social background. The 19th - century New York was a place of great change and turmoil, with a large number of immigrants pouring in. This led to the formation of gangs as a means of survival and power - seeking for these marginalized groups. Then there's the element of violence. The gangs engaged in brutal fights, often using primitive weapons. And finally, there's the political aspect. The city's politicians had to deal with these gangs, sometimes using them for their own political ends, and other times trying to suppress them. All these elements combined to create the complex and violent world depicted in the movie.
The key elements include the territorial disputes among the gangs. They fought over areas in the city to control various illegal activities. The ethnic diversity within the gangs is also important. You had different ethnic groups, like the Irish, forming their own gangs and competing. And the power struggle, not just between gangs but also between the gangs and the city's authorities, was a significant part of the story. It was a complex web of power, territory, and identity in that historical context.