Discussion Questions
July 31, 2006

1. What were the criticisms of  the Progressives, and does McCormick adequately deal with those criticisms?  Is McCormick an apologist for the Progressives?
2. Was it possible for Progressives to achieve social justice without social control?
3. The Supreme Court decision of 1908 was considered a landmark decision at the time.  What made it a landmark decision?
4. How does the paradigm of social justice and social control described by McCormick apply to the efforts of reformers to confront urban pollution?
5. How can we use The Jungle as a historical source?  What are its assets and/or limitations as a source?
6. What would be the concerns for middle class reformers raised by the novel?
7. Based on the readings as a whole, what considerations or restrictions existed to protect worker health, safety, and welfare?
8. In Boys in the Breakers, how is the middle class perspective evident?  What is the major argument and/or concern of the article?
9. According to Melosi, why did the environment gain attention as an object of reform?  Who was behind the reform and how might we assess their motives?

   While leisure was arguable the activity which cut across all lines and barriers in America, would it be equally possible to argue that leisure was in fact more exclusive than inclusive?  What evidence would you use to argue this?

    

   ---