Presented by Willard Hurst as part of his course "Introduction to Modern American Legal History" at the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1978. Henry George continues to be discussed as Hurst focuses on deliberate, collective action. He then moves on to highlight the economic values that can be found within communities based on the division of labor and technology. This creates increased material expectations, and a frustration of expectations for some groups. The overall impact of the business cycle on the general quality of life is linked to a discussion on the depression of the 1930's and the New Deal. Hurst closes by highlighting the general twentieth century public policies, and a discussion of his book on nineteenth century expectations. This discussion revolves around topics that Hurst has included in his text. He begins by highlighting the key points of the Hudson Valley River Riots of the 1830's, and social class conflicts at the end of the nineteenth century. He discusses the market-oriented middle class that existed at this time, and the primary focus of trade. This is tied to a critique of the first chapter of his book, an explanation of the meaning of consensus history, and the development of the money system.
