Muckraking - Chapter 6
- Immigration was at an all time high into the United States. More people meant more labor resources.
- The fourth estate takes a stand in exposing corruption throughout many major industries.
- Theodore Roosevelt refers to what the investigative journalists are doing as similar to "raking muck" (hence the term "Muckraking).
1. Attacking Municipal Corruption
- Lincoln Steffens - works to expose corruption in the municipal government.
- seen as the first Muckraker
- Steffen moved from city to city exposing the senators of different states and causing them to leave office.
2. Busting the Trusts
- The leading muckraking magazine is founded by S.S. McClure.
- Ida Tarbell has her breakthrough moment in muckraking. She covers the corruption in the oil industry.
- Tarbell's way of writing helped fuel enthusiasm from the nation.
- In 1906 congress passes the Hepburn Act - responsible for assigning penalties to railroad companies that have specific arrangements with major companies.
3. Awakening the Public to Dangerous Foods and Drugs
- Investigative journalists aimed their focus on the food and drug industries.
- Upton Sinclair exposed the horrible conditions within the meat packing industry.
- Ladies' Home Journal lead the crusade against the drugs. It informed it's readers of the lies within the drugs ads and claims.
4. Exposing "Treason" in the U.S. Senate
- The senators were paid by the Standard Oil company.
- David Graham Phillips began exposing senators in cities all over the country.
5. Muckraking: An Unparalleled Legacy
- Muckraking brought about many drastic changes
- the hold on the oil industry ended
- trusts that controlled the railroad, liquor, mining, sugar, and beef were ended.
- The public was given this information to make them aware of things that can directly affect them.
No comments:
Post a Comment