Muckrakers In The Progressive Era

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In the Progressive Era, muckrakers had a huge effect on society. There were several muckrakers who helped expose major problems in America. Muckrakers were journalist who wrote to expose the truth. Muckrakers used pictures, articles and even wrote books. Well-known muckrakers Jacob Riis and Upton Sinclair had a major impact on society. Jacob Riis exposed tenement houses in New York in 1890. Upton Sinclair exposed the meatpacking factories in Chicago. Ida Tarbell a female muckraker exposed John D. Rockefeller and The Standard Oil Company. Jane Addams also played a huge part in the progressive era, she created the first settlement house in Chicago. Thomas Nast a well-known cartoonist doing the progressive era had a huge impact also. In the progressive …show more content…
Jacob Riis wrote the book, “How the Other Half Lives.” In the book he informed us about the different living conditions about poor people and rich people. In his book he stated “Long ago it was said that "one half of the world does not know how the other half lives." That was true then. It did not know because it did not care. The half that was on top cared little for the struggles, and less for the fate of those who were underneath, so long as it was able to hold them there and keep its own seat. There came a time when the discomfort and consequent upheavals so violent, that it was no longer an easy thing to do, and then the upper half fell to inquiring what was the matter. Information on the subject has been accumulating rapidly since, and the whole world has had its hands full answering for its old ignorance.” In that quote he expressed how the richer people never once considered the conditions of the poor. Food conditions during the progressive era were very poor and Upton Sinclair exposed them. Upton Sinclair published the book, “The Jungle” explaining the poor conditions of the meat packing factories. The book produced an immediate and powerful effect on Americans and on federal policy. When Sinclair exposed the diseased, rotten, and contaminated meat conditions it shocked the public and led to new federal food safety laws. Upton Sinclair was able to get two acts passed after his
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