1998). He was the "first great self made millionaire whose career was made off of the ambitions of young Americans."(Rugoff 1989: 40) The Astor fortune was based on alcohol and fraud; drunken Native Americans were systematically cheated and swindled by agents of Astor's American Fur Company. When the Native Americans complained to the American government Astor's agents or henchmen resorted to violence. When the Native Americans retaliated, troops were sent to quell the "Indian disorder", in the form of total destruction. In addition to exploiting Native Americans, Astor succeeded in forcing his employees in the western wilderness to buy from company owned stores at exorbitant prices (Meyers 1936; Rugoff 1989). This showed his own unwaveringness for his own people. This is the only aspect found to be unlike the organized crime of post prohibition. .
Astor was able to monopolize the fur trade and "was never prosecuted for the numerous violations of both penal and civil law invariably committed at his direction and for his benefit. With the millions that rolled in, he was able not only to command the services of the foremost lawyers in warding off penalties of law, but also to have his paid retainers some of the most noted and powerful politicians of the day .For instance, he paid Lewis Cass, then governor of the territory of Michigan, thirty-five thousand dollars for unexplained services. David Loth was researched to say that the money was well invested. Later, as secretary of war, "Cass was to hear and dismiss charges of corruption, extortion, trespass and violence against the American Fur Company and its representatives"(Myers 1936: 103). The money gained through the lawlessness and violence against the native Americans in the western fur trade was used for real estate in New York, where easily corrupted officials helped Astor become one America's first and greatest slumlords, taking money away from poor immigrants for the privilege of living in the vilest of tenement housing.
