Chapter+9

Chapter 9 After joining the union, Jurgis enrolls in free night school to learn English so that he might participate in the meetings. He learns about democracy and politics. Jurgis discovers that in America, like everywhere else, the rich men own almost everything. After Jurgis has been working at Brown's for three weeks, a night watchman asks him if he wants to become a naturalized citizen of the United States. Jurgis does and is taken, along with a number of his co-workers, to big gray buildings where he fills out paperwork. Then the man treats them to rounds of drinks and Brown's gives Jurgis days off work to complete the process. Jurgis doesn't realize he's involved in a corrupt operation, though. Men bribe the workers to vote a certain way during elections, paying them for a vote, and giving them free drinks at the saloons where the voting booths are located. Jurgis realizes something is not right when Jonas comes home one night and says that he offered to vote three times for four dollars-and that his offer has been accepted!

**1.What differences does the union make in Jurgis?**

**2.According to Jurgis how is America the same as Russia?**

**3.Explain Jurgis’s role in elections. Does he understand what he is taking part in? What exactly is he taking part in?**

**4.Explain the political system in Chicago at that time.**

**5.Who is Mike Scully?**

**6.Describe the corruption presented in this chapter.**

**7.Describe the health issues outlined in this chapter. Do you think this was unique to Durham’s? Explain.**