Many different groups who attempted to use the new Prohibition laws to their advantage but few were ever successful. There were several figures during the 1920s that succeeded in taking advantage of the Prohibition Act. Among these individuals were Dutch Schultz, Meyer Lansky, Salvatore Luciano, and Arnold Rothstein. These men were able to form relationships that contributed to their success and the success of those around them. The unique mindset these individuals possessed allowed for them to use prohibition as an opportunity rather then a restriction. In order to achieve success through bootlegging, Dutch Schultz, Meyer Lansky, Salvatore Luciano, and Arnold Rothstein used skills acquired from their life experiences to create effective
…show more content…
When he was 14, his father walked out. He dropped out of school and tried various jobs including selling newspapers, but it was neither easy nor profitable. As a way to support himself and his family, he began robbing crap games. He soon realized he could make more money by breaking into people’s homes and stealing their belongings. At the age of seventeen he was arrested for robbery. It’s interesting to note that this would be the only time he would ever serve jail time. At this young age, had Schultz seen laws as purposefully restrictive, he may have stopped his criminal behavior after experiencing prison. However, instead of his prison sentence being a wake up call, it had little to no effect on stopping him from further continuing his criminal endeavors. Once in jail, Schultz had a hard time getting along with his cellmates and was moved many times throughout the prison to avoid problems. Although this does not directly connect to the illegal bootlegging activities he eventually became involved in, it shows how at a young age Schulz did not respect the law and was not fearful of law enforcement. Before Schultz started his own bootlegging business he learned the ropes by working under other notorious bootleggers. In the early 1920s, Schultz started out as a truck driver for Arnold Rothstein moving alcohol into New York. This gave him the opportunity to make connections that would help him later in his own business.
When he was 14, his father walked out. He dropped out of school and tried various jobs including selling newspapers, but it was neither easy nor profitable. As a way to support himself and his family, he began robbing crap games. He soon realized he could make more money by breaking into people’s homes and stealing their belongings. At the age of seventeen he was arrested for robbery. It’s interesting to note that this would be the only time he would ever serve jail time. At this young age, had Schultz seen laws as purposefully restrictive, he may have stopped his criminal behavior after experiencing prison. However, instead of his prison sentence being a wake up call, it had little to no effect on stopping him from further continuing his criminal endeavors. Once in jail, Schultz had a hard time getting along with his cellmates and was moved many times throughout the prison to avoid problems. Although this does not directly connect to the illegal bootlegging activities he eventually became involved in, it shows how at a young age Schulz did not respect the law and was not fearful of law enforcement. Before Schultz started his own bootlegging business he learned the ropes by working under other notorious bootleggers. In the early 1920s, Schultz started out as a truck driver for Arnold Rothstein moving alcohol into New York. This gave him the opportunity to make connections that would help him later in his own business.