What were the living and working conditions like in the steel mill towns? How does this relate to the early attempts at strikes and labor unions?

Kracha began as a laborer working in the mills. By the end of Part 1, he has lost everything. How did he lose everything, according to his own account? Retrace the events leading up to his disastrous end and assess the factual reasons for his loss.

What are some of the reasons for immigrating to America that are mentioned in the novel? How did the lives of Kracha, Mike Dobrejcak and other immigrants profit from leaving their home country behind? Did they profit?