Jay Gatsby sustained most of his wealth through the bootlegging industry during the prohibition era. He was not guilty of any wrongdoing when he gained his wealth, but there can be some question to if his way of obtaining his wealth was legal. Mr. Gatsby was not the only famous man who prospered by bootlegging during the 1920’s; the famous Al Capone did the same thing. Many believe that there was nothing wrong with the way Gatsby got all his money, but there are some ways it can prove to be totally illegal and in some cases dangerous.
Prohibition took place during the 1920’s and many did not like this new way of life. Prohibition is the legal act of prohibiting the manufacturing, storage, transportation and the sale of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. Jay Gatsby did everything prohibition told you not to do. He made his fortune illegally. According to source A, The Volstead Act, this says that the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited. Mr. Gatsby smuggled and made alcohol to provide for the need of the citizens. The Volstead Act states that this process is highly illegal and that Jay Gatsby should have been subject to jurisdiction.
The illegal manufacturing and sale of liquor was taking place all throughout the 1920’s. People would go and drink at these secret stores or nightclubs called “speakeasies.” Alcohol was also being smuggled across state lines and being made in private homes, this was called “moonshine” or “bathtub gin.” (Source B from History.com) The problem was that know one knew where and how the alcohol they were drinking was made, this can prove to be very dangerous. Many bootleggers such as Jay Gatsby had many different methods for masking the production and consumption of alcohol. These bootleggers had to produce liquor in...