Muckracker Research Paper

445 Words2 Pages
Muckrackers were a group of reporters who exposed the corruption and injustices in the business sector and the government sector that revealed the graveness of the (pathetic working conditions) situation, which until then, was not public knowledge. The print revolution allowed for the situation to develop, radically changing it as people grew to become aware, to some extent, about the corruption, but writing to Congress to eradicate and correct these abuses had not only less of an immediate impact since this was a slow process, but it also did not yield reforms. However, with the advent of the press, publications appeared in print and reached millions of readers. As the adage goes, “the pen is sometimes mightier than the sword”, which proved…show more content…
Louis”, which revealed how the city officials (who seemed to be good in the eye of the public) were working hand in hand with big businesses to hold on to their power while corrupting the public treasury. When another article published by Steffens in the form of a book called The Shame of Cities, public outcry soared,and the city government was demanded to develop the progressive ideas of a city manager system. Thus, progressivism was born, which was rooted deeply in the hopes of eradicating the ills of the society and enabling better human life. Muckraking flourished as many writers joined the bandwagon to investigate many aspects of American life (businesses, government, insurance, child labor, health care, food industry). For example, Upton Sinclair’s’ “The Jungle” exposed the meat packing industry (detailed the horrific and bone chilling accounts of workers sacrificing their fingers/nails by working with acid, toiling long hours in cold, cramped conditions, rotten contents sold to the public under the guise of chemicals to hide the smell). Muckraking was coined by President Roosevelt, who acted promptly to end the sickening abuses, which eventually led to the Pure Food and Drug

    More about Muckracker Research Paper

      Open Document