Although the spotlight stays on guys like Nucky Johnson for the bulk of Boardwalk Empire, the real stars of the show are the blue-collar workers who build Atlantic City from the ground up. Atlantic City was built by Jewish, Italian, and Irish immigrants; by African-Americans who fled Jim Crow for brighter pastures; by working-class tourists from Philadelphia.
The people in charge want us to believe that Atlantic City has always been a playground for the rich and famous, but the truth is that the resort town would never have survived without major contributions from ordinary people. In many ways, the successes and failures of Atlantic City reflect growing changes happening to American society at large. Keep an eye on the little guy for a sense of how regular folks are faring in society in general.
Questions About Society and Class
- How do racial tensions play into the class system in Atlantic City?
- What would have happened to Atlantic City if Richards had never built a budget railroad?
- Is there tension between the working and middle class in Atlantic City? Explain.
- In what ways does the story of Atlantic City reflect changes throughout American society?