Organized Crime
At the time The Great Gatsby was published, there were
approximately one hundred thousand speakeasies, as unlawful
drinking dens were called, in New York alone. Bootlegging (the
illicit production and provision of alcohol) became a big
business, making fortunes for criminals such as the gangster Al
Capone. In The Great Gatsby, the criminal underworld is
represented by the character Meyer Wolfsheim - who is based
on the real-life gambler Arnold Rothstein.
Links: In your presentation, be sure to address:
approximately one hundred thousand speakeasies, as unlawful
drinking dens were called, in New York alone. Bootlegging (the
illicit production and provision of alcohol) became a big
business, making fortunes for criminals such as the gangster Al
Capone. In The Great Gatsby, the criminal underworld is
represented by the character Meyer Wolfsheim - who is based
on the real-life gambler Arnold Rothstein.
Links: In your presentation, be sure to address:
- What is "organized crime"? Why did it become so prevalent in the 1920s?
- What was the mafia's main business venture (how did they make money)?
- Briefly describe each of the mob leaders listed above (who they were, where they were from, what crimes they committed, and why they are infamous). Pay particular attention to Arnold Rothstein - a character in The Great Gatsby is based on him!
- Last Slide - Answer the "Making Predictions" question
Mrs. Arresto's The Great Gatsby Pre-Reading Project