The Role Of Muckrakers In The Progressive Era

418 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Progressive era muckrakers

Progressives in the 1900s mainly sought for one thing, and that was for their own idea of "progress." However, in order to progress both in society and in the world, a people must first seek to fix the problems within itself. Muckrakers served their purpose in the Progressive Era by giving the people what can be considered as a diagnosis, becoming a vital part in this movement. They highlighted problems in the food industry, corruption in trusts and city governments, and called for the sanitation of urban areas – which all led to reform in these respective areas.
Muckrakers can be described as investigative journalists and authors who write to expose the issues of the people they observe. The origins of the term "muckraker" come from a speech made by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. He speaks of the allegory written by Bunyan, "Pilgrim's Progress," and one of the characters in it, the Man with the Muck-rake, "who could look no way but downward … who was offered a … crown for his muck-rake, but who would neither look up nor regard the crown he was offered, but continued to rake to himself the filth of the floor." With the character explained, Roosevelt continues with his speech, saying, …show more content…

There is filth on the floor, and it must be scraped up with the muck-rake; and there are times and places where this service is the most needed of all the services that can be performed … There are, in the body politic, economic and social, many and grave evils, and there is urgent necessity for the sternest war upon them. There should be relentless exposure of and attack upon every evil man … I hail as a benefactor … every man who … makes such attack, provided always that he in his turn remembers that the attack is of use only if it is absolutely

Show More
Related

  • Movements Throughout History Led by Farmers and the Economy

    733 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...’s suffrage and more social welfare programs. Progressivism focused on eliminating practices harmful to farmers, workers, tenement dwellers, and consumers by expanding government regulation over the economy. They wanted to government to help make it easier for people have more control over their lives. Without the populist the progressive movement would have never been able to complete so many accomplishments. Progressive party did not last but its goals, similar to the populist goals, become influential in the future. The progressive movement was overall a more overcoming movement. It took the populist ideals and influenced them in order to become successful during the progressive movement rather then in the populist. If the populist had an expanded argument rather then just based on farmers then they could have been more successful and setting out their goals.

    Read More

  • Muckrakers

    393 Words  | 1 Pages

    Muckrakers were early twentieth-century reformers whose      1 mission was to look for and uncover political and business corruption. The term muckraker, which referred to the "man with a muckrake" in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, was first used in a pejorative sense by Theodore Roosevelt, whose opinion of the muckrakers was that they were biased and overreacting. The movement began about 1902 and died down by 1917. Despite its brief duration, however, it had a significant impact on the political, commercial, and even literary climate of the period.

    Read More

  • Upton Sinclair And The Progressive Era

    1725 Words  | 4 Pages

    Taking place in the jungle of meat packing factories during the early 1900s in Chicago, a journalist by the name of Upton Sinclair dissects the savage inner workings of America’s working class factory lifestyle. Sinclair portrayed the grim circumstance that workers faced and the exploited lives of factory workers in Chicago. He became what was then called a mudrucker; a journalist who goes undercover to see first hand the conditions they were investigating. Being in poor fortune, Sinclair was able to blend into the surrounds of the factory life with his poor grimy clothing. The undercover journalist would walk into the factory with the rest of the men, examine its conditions, and record them when he returned home. It is the worker’s conditions

    Read More

  • The Progressive Movement Dbq Essay

    579 Words  | 2 Pages

    Cities and industry grew in growth on the first of January in 1900 which created an influx of the high classes. Andrew Carnegie is a factory owner who was about to sell his steel company, but ended up becoming one of the richest man in the world. However, there was an underside of this whole excitement to earn money and the hope of the American dream. Average earnings were less than $500 a year, but in the unskilled southern workers earned an average of $300 a year. The work hours were 60 hours a week, wages were strained, and horrible child labor. The question is what was the most important problems in America during the early 1900s that needed to be addressed by The Progressive Movement. There are three main reasons: the struggling child labor, women’s voting rights, and

    Read More

  • Muckrakers

    1900 Words  | 4 Pages

    Muckraking was a powerful journalistic force, whose supporters made it so. Muckraking was the practice of writers and critics exposing corrupt politicians and business practices. President Theodore Roosevelt made the term "muck-raker" popular. He once said The man with the muck-rake, the man who could look no way but downward with the muck-rake in his hands; who was offered a celestial crown for his muckrake, but who would neither look up nor regard the crown he was offered, but continued to rake himself the filth of the floor. Some, like Roosevelt, viewed methods of muckrakers such as Ida Tarbell, Ray S. Baker, Lincoln Steffens, and Upton Sinclair as these types of people.

    Read More

  • Muckrakers In The Progressive Era

    1253 Words  | 3 Pages

    Muckraking. The public was becoming more and more informed throughout the Progressive Era. Muckraking, the predecessor to investigative journalism, would play a major role in exposing social problems. Muckrakers had a huge impact on the changing societal landscape and investigated anything that they felt was corrupt and needed reform, such as unsanitary conditions and housing. Two Famous muckrakers, Upton Sinclair and Jacob Riis, wrote books that would expose two of the biggest scandals of the Progressive Era.

    Read More

  • Muckrakers: Exposing the Truth

    825 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the Progressive Era Theodore Roosevelt coined the term “muckraker” to characterize journalists that he believed overdid themselves when researching a story, comparing them to someone stirring up the mud at the bottom of a pond. However, while Roosevelt created the nickname, he also used the muckrakers’ influence to directly appeal to the American people. Journalists who are considered muckrakers do not go too far in the pursuit of their stories because they are using their positions to expose the ills of the government, big business, and society; it is beneficial to the American people.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Progressive Era And The New Deal Era

    1652 Words  | 4 Pages

    Through muckraking they were able to enlighten the people of the need for change, and with the help of the people demand and support reform.

    Read More

  • The Populists and Progressives

    1147 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the late 19th and early 20th century both the Populist Party and Progressive movement wanted to preserve some things, while also addressing the need for reform. Although many of the ideas and goals of these “Third parties” were initially not legislated and considered far-fetched, many of these ideas later became fundamental laws throughout American history. The Populists and Progressives were both grass roots movements, and addressed the needs of the poor and powerless, for the Populists it was farmers and for the Progressives it was urban lower and middle class workers. These two movements attempted to bring the powerless peoples issues to national politics. The Populists and Progressives wanted to preserve some American ideals of the past, such as a sense of community and the ability for farmers and workers to live happily without economic strains. Populists were more oriented to the plight of the farmer while the Progressives included women's rights, and protection of the consumer and labor.

    Read More

  • An Obituary For The Progressive Movement Analysis

    2307 Words  | 5 Pages

    The most commonly known, and consequently most watered down, version of the progressive movement argues that this era was simply an effort by the middle class to cure many of the social and political ills of American society that had developed during the rapid industrial

    Read More

  • Progressive Era Vs New Deal

    922 Words  | 2 Pages

    Reform provides permanent programs to avoid another depression and to protect citizens against an economic disaster. The Progressive Movement which targeted urban complications, there was a massive disparity between the wealthy and the poor and the goal was to bring equality into the nation. The movement aimed towards removing corruption and including American citizens into the political process. Additionally, to encourage the government to solve the social issues that were occurring in the late 1800’s and early 20th century, all while balancing impartial treatment into the economic matters.

    Read More

  • The Progressive Era

    949 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Progressive Era was a time period between the years 1900-1920 and it marked a time in American history in which society was bursting with enthusiasm to improve life in the industrial age by making political and social changes through government action that ultimately led to a higher quality of life for American citizens. Progressives were known for their beliefs in limiting the power of big business, strengthening the power of the states, and were advocators against corruption and social injustice. These progressive reformers as well as the Federal Government successfully managed to improve the quality of life and establish a precedent for a move active government, although neither was completely successful in solving significant issues the nation faced.

    Read More

  • Progressives In The Late 1800's

    919 Words  | 2 Pages

    Unfortunately, most of the reforms sought out by reformers during the late 1800’s were mostly ignored. For example, Farmers during this time came together to create the National Farmers Alliance, which aided in the creation of the Populist Party and worked to lower tariffs and eliminate the trust in order to help American Farmers. However, despite their hard efforts, the “millionaires club” Senate did not sway away from their cozy relationship with big business, and instead of aiding their efforts, imposed weak legislation like the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887. Reforms such as the Interstate Commerce Act failed to quench the demands of movements throughout the United States during this time. Early progressives during this time were met

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Conflict And External Conflicts

    1143 Words  | 3 Pages

    “We all fight on two fronts, the one facing the enemy, the other facing what we do to the enemy” (Boyden 199).

    Read More

  • The Role Of Muckrakers In The Progressive Era

    1607 Words  | 4 Pages

    Muckrakers are journalists who played a major role in The Progressive Era. They were not just simple journalists, however, they attacked corrupt institutions and leaders. Along with that, they exposed industries. Their writings had large audiences in American socitey and many articles were even published in popular magazines for everyone to view. Theodore Roosevelt, also known as Teddy, was president of the United States during this Progessive Era. He was the first to use this term, nicknaming these investigative journalists after the adopted word from John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. A rake was used to dig up dirt, filth, and muck. Comparing to these authors, they found and revealed the “dirt” politicians and industries kept hidden. His

    Read More

More about The Role Of Muckrakers In The Progressive Era

Open Document