In the book Jurgis comes to understand that power lies in groups. He learns that in America power lies within the people and that if enough people unite for a goal they are more powerful than any business or corrupt leader. However, Jurgis does not see this in the beginning. At first Jurgis has no care for power and is very naïve about the American system of government. He foolishly believes in the "American Dream" and thinks everything in America will come easily. When these ideas are crushed he experiments with unions but finds that they are not effective. Later he thinks that the only way to get power is through crime. This works for a while and he gets more money that he has ever had, but he eventually realizes that there is no true power in crime...