Muckrakers- American Journalists - 932 Words

Muckrakers According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary a muckraker is someone who â€Å"searches out and publicly exposes real or apparent misconduct of a prominent individual or business† (â€Å"Muckraker†). During the 1890s to the 1920s, muckrakers were a group of American journalists who exposed the corruption in society and informed the public about important social issues. The term muckraker originally came around when President Roosevelt gave a speech about reporters who exposed political and corporate corruption (Who Are the Muckrakers?†). There have been so many muckrakers in American history whose works have been the cause of new laws and changes; some of the most important and famous of these muckrakers were Upton Sinclair, Samuel Hopkins Adams, and Jacob Riis. The first of the muckrakers to be discussed is Jacob Riis. Riis was born and raised in Denmark, but moved to New York when he was twenty- one years old. He grew up in an impoverished household wit h fourteen other siblings; therefore, he understood the struggle of the needy that lived in New York (â€Å"Jacob Riis Muckraker†). In 1888, Riis was given a job with the New York Evening Sun as a photojournalist (â€Å"Jacob Riis†). His pictures primarily portrayed the awful living conditions of those who lived in New York’s Lower East Side (â€Å"Jacob Riis Muckraker†). In 1889, Riis became a police reporter, which exposed him to the horrid living conditions. After seeing what really went on in parts of his new hometown, he decidedShow MoreRelatedThe Progressive Era Of Social And Political Reform1177 Words   |  5 Pageseducation middle-class of urban areas. Another term used to describe these reformers is Muckrakers. Muckrakers were investigative journalists who tried to make the public aware of the problems in society that needed fixing. They stemmed from yellow journalism, which was a style of reporting that used exaggeration to attract readers. In a speech made by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, the term muckraker was used in a derogatory way, he â€Å" borrowed the word from John Bunyan s Puritan storyRead MoreIda Tarbell s Influence On American History1448 Words   |  6 PagesIda Tarbell Throughout her lifetime, Ida Tarbell served as an outspoken, strong-willed and controversial figure in American History. Her harsh exposà ©s of the Standard Oil Company in McClure’s magazine, later culminated into The History of the Standard Oil Company (1904) earned her volumes of attention as an investigative journalist, also known as a â€Å"muckraker†. As a Progressive Era reformer she acted out of her appetite to change society, and in her case, squash trusts which were hurting America’sRead MorePolitical Ideas Stemming from Darwinism624 Words   |  3 PagesAt the turn of the 20th century American citizens were faced with many inequalities and progressivism emerged as an evolutionary political response. People who considered themselves â€Å"progressives† championed many different types of changes but the fundamental tenet of any progressive was the idea that the central role of any government was to improve the quality of life for everyday c itizens. Before progressives became a powerful political force the main political ideas stemmed from Darwinist viewsRead MoreThe Rise Of The Progressive Era1418 Words   |  6 Pagesand tremendously dangerous. In the Progressive Era, influential journalists wanted to expose the government and big business of their flaws to American citizens with using factual and proven evidence against them. Muckrakers, who are journalists that seek out the truth of corruption among the government and business leaders, became well known due to how many people were amazed by the revealed injustices and dishonesty in the American industry and society. These writers uncovered many wrong doingsRead MoreThe Standard Oil Company Essay1010 Words   |  5 PagesThe Standard Oil Trust of Ohio was and American oil producing, refining, and transporting company. It was founded in 1863 by John D. Rockefeller and lasted until 1911. During 1868, Rockefeller expanded the oil company to become the largest oil refining company in the world. In 1870, the company was renamed Standard Oil Company. After it was renamed, Rockefeller purchased most of the oil companies that were currently in business to make one large company. Rockefeller’s actions created a monopolyRead MoreUpton Sinclair and the Chicago Meat-Packing Industry1072 Words   |  5 Pagesinvestigate working conditions in Chicagos meatpacking plants, for the Socialist journal, Appeal to Reason, in 1904. The Jungle, published in 1906, is Sinclairs most popular and influential work. It is also his first of many muckraker pieces. In order to improve society, muckrakers wanted to expose any injustice on human rights or well-being. Therefore, it was Sinclairs goal to expose the harsh treatment of factory workers through The Jungle. The improvement on society, that he hoped would followRead MoreEssay about Upton Sinclair And The Chicago Meat-Packing Industry1094 Words   |  5 Pagesinvestigate working conditions in Chicagos meatpacking plants, for the Socialist journal, Appeal to Reason, in 1904. The Jungle, published in 1906, is Sinclairs most popular and influential work. It is also his first of many muckraker pieces. In order to improve society, muckrakers wanted to expose any injustice on human rights or well-being. Therefore, it was Sinclairs goal to expose the harsh treatment of factory workers through The Jungle. The improvement on society, that he hoped would followRead MoreAnalysis Of Upton Sinclair s The Jungle 811 Words   |  4 PagesMuckrakers were journalists, novelists, professors, and public intellectuals who voiced their Progressive ideas, brought exposure to the living conditions of American workers and political corruption present throughout the era. Their name of muckraker was given by President Roosevelt in a speech depicting them as people who were interested in only raking the filth with a muckrake in their hands. He supported their exposure of issues but no in the way in which they did them which he often saw as irresponsibleRead MoreThe Progressive Era ( 1900-1919 )1544 Words   |  7 Pagesprogressives believed that these changes marked the end of the old order and invited the b eginning of a new era fit for the industrial age. Others believed that these changes marked a necessity for improvement rather than complete eradication. Regardless, American citizens utilized their ability to enrich social circumstances, both politically and morally, to guarantee social justice around 1865-1929. In a general sense, the conservative goals of this period substantiated the Liberal developments passed byRead MoreThe Progressive Era Essay example1010 Words   |  5 Pagesthe people. In order to reinstate economic opportunities and to correct inequity in American life. Progressives believed that government could be used as a powerful tool for social improvement (Gillon, Matson 2009). Although the Progressive ideal was presented by numerous Progressive authors of different genre, together they all presented the impact of the economic, political, social, and moral reforms of the American Society. The Progressive authors were arranged by challenges of which they offered