What factors contributed to poor air quality in the Victorian era, especially in New York City?

What challenges did the working poor face in tenement living? In apartment living?

A common saying in the Victorian era was "Our last prop is a cop," meaning a policeman was the last person to resort to. Why did policemen have this reputation? How does author Otto Bettman characterize the majority of policemen during this period?

What is the author's purpose in writing this book? Does the author have a bias?

Discuss some of the ways in which workers were exploited during this period, in the absence of modern labor laws and safety regulations.

Describe teaching methods as examined in the book. What was a teacher's relationship to students? How are teachers characterized?

Discuss the political machine or Boss system of politics, and the consequences it had to...