Organized Crime

Portrayed in The Great

Gatsby

By: Michael Perrella and Cassidy Santos

What is Organized
Crime in the 1920s?
Organized Crime: Prohibition
On January 17, 1920, the United
States of Americas government
decided to ban alcohol through the
passing of the 18th Amendment
Control over supply
This made the production, sale, and also led to control in
transport of alcohol illegal, however the price making
consumption of alcohol was not illegal Prohibition a optimal
time for gangsters to
Considered one of the biggest mistakes in take advantage of
history it was later repealed through the the situation
passing of the 21st Amendment on
December 5, 1933

This gave rose to a market for illegal

alcohol being smuggled to the US for
large profits
Organized Crime: Prohibition
This led to an increase in crime rates and violence

Sourced alcohol supply from Canada, Mexico, Cuba and

the Bahamas
CANADA MEXICO
Transported via water, police were only able to confiscate
5% of the illegal substance due to the large coastline

Bribing government officials was common to keep business

going it was very profitable

People became unemployed due to closing of alcohol

factories leading to the continued disrespect of the law
CUBA BAHAMAS
With their wealth, Syndicates moved to other black market
trades with the wealth they attained

Led to future branding behind alcohol from poor alcohol

Why was organized
crime popular during
the 1920s?
Opportunity for Profit
There was an ongoing fight between gangs to control the alcohol

The profits that could be made were easy as many could pay off
government officials

The fact that alcohol wasnt illegal to consume was the loophole that
gangsters and other outfits benefitted from

Used wealth and profits from prohibition times to further other black market
trades after it was lifted

What rose from Prohibition was cooperation between gangs to develop into
organized crime that infiltrated government
The Power Behind It All: Al Capone
Al Capone known for his control in Chicago,
had tremendous power running the
Chicago Mafia

Made 60 million USD per year through

alcohol sales alone

Made 45 million USD per year through other

rackets (brothels, gambling spots,
speakeasier, breweries, distilleries, etc.)

Used profits from alcohol sales to buy Alphonse Capone (1899-1947)

immunity by paying off the police and
politicians Boss to the Chicago Mafia, aka Scarface, made it
during Prohibition where he made his name
Mafia patrolled voting booths to ensure
corrupt politicians would be in power
How does organized crime
relate to The Great Gatsby?
Relation to The Great Gatsby: Black Sox Scandal
The Black Sox scandal was a Major League
Baseball incident that took place in 1919.

This incident included eight players of the

Chicago White Sox and they were accused
of intentionally losing the 1919 World Series
against the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for
money from gamblers.

The eight players were banned from the league

for life and because of the scandal the
White Sox got nicknamed the Black Sox.
Arnold Rothstein
The kingpin of the Jewish Mob in New York City

He was the one that allegedly fixed the world

series.

Rothstein was approached by groups involved in a

scheme to rig the world series, and he was
asked to finance the bribery of several White
Sox players. In the end, the White Sox threw
the series, Rothstein was believed to have
earned approximately $350,000 by betting on
the Reds.

Rothstein denies any involvement in this scandal

though, and this case is still only half-solved as
of 2017.
The Relation To The Great Gatsby

On page 67 line 35 Gatsby mentions that The American

Wolfshiem fixed the world series back in 1919. Dream is a main
topic in The Great
It can be seen that F. Scott Fitzgerald used Arnold Gatsby, being that
Rothstein as a model for the character in The Gatsby has made
Great Gatsby who is Meyer Wolfsheim. it from having
nothing to living in
Also the main objective in the 1920s was to West Egg. His
become as rich as possible and through this means however
fictional story and what actually happened back werent a legal
then are shown to be similar. No one back in option
the 1920s would give up a chance to gain
money, no matter what had to be done to gain
the money.
Organized Crime in The Great Gatsby
In this book it gets mentioned or implied that Gatsby is taking
part in criminal activity. This happens on more than one
occasion.

In chapter seven, Tom addresses Gatsby saying "I found out

what your 'drug-stores' were." He turned to us and spoke
rapidly. "He and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-
street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain
alcohol over the counter. That's one of his little stunts. I
picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I
wasn't far wrong."

This quote is basically telling the reader that Gatsby is involved

in some type of criminal activity. Considering the situation
in 1920s, bootlegging was the most possible scenario.
 VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBzYCuu7l3g
Sources
https://www.britannica.com/topic/bootlegging

http://www.umich.edu/~eng217/student_projects/nkazmers/organizedcrime2.htm
l
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Rothstein

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sox_Scandal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Capone

http://www.history.com/topics/prohibition