MUCKRAKERS

Exposing the corruption of early 20th Century America.

Rapid industrialization following the Civil War led to many problems.

Rapid Industrialization

Robber Barons City Growth Factories

Corruption Slums SweatshopsMachine Politics

These problems were too significant to be ignored.

• Newspapers and magazines began to publish reports.– McClure’s (most famous “muckraking

magazine”)

• Novelists and photographers published exposés and disturbing photos.– Upton Sinclair The Jungle– Jacob Riis: How the Other Half Lives

How the Other Half Lives by Jacob Riis

Riis was born in Denmark

Immigrated to the U.S. in 1870

1889 his pictures and articles seen by N.Y. Governor T. Roosevelt

The tenements he exposed were shut down

McClure’s Magazine Founded in 1893 by

Samuel McClure Began specializing in

muckraking journalism in 1902

Journalists included: Ida Tarbell (Standard

Oil) Lincoln Steffens

(municipal corruption)

Ida Tarbell vs. Standard OilIda Tarbell vs. Standard Oil

By 1890 Standard Oil controlled over 90% of

the refined oil flows in the United States. Standard Oil achieved its monopoly through

aggressive and often illegal business practices: Purchasing competitors Undercutting prices Shady deals with the railroads Standard Oil went so far as to destroy a competing oil

refinery right here in Buffalo Oil could not leave the oil field unless Standard Oil

agreed to move it.

From 1902-1904 Ida Tarbell investigated Standard Oil

Her articles raised public awareness of Rockefeller’s ruthless monopoly.

Tarbell’s efforts led to the eventual breakup of the Standard Oil monopoly in 1911.

Lincoln SteffensLincoln Steffens

Born, San Francisco 1866Born, San Francisco 1866 The son of a wealthy businessmanThe son of a wealthy businessman 1902-1911 editor of McClure1902-1911 editor of McClure’’s s

MagazineMagazine Published books and articles focusing on Published books and articles focusing on

municipal corruptionmunicipal corruption Became a radical communist later in lifeBecame a radical communist later in life

The Shame of the CitiesThe Shame of the Cities

Political Machines in the early 1900’s By 1900 every major American city was controlled

by a single political party. These parties be they Democrat or Republican

controlled cities through various underhanded and illegal tactics such as: Physical intimidation Bribery Voting fraud Ballot stuffing

Political Machines in the early 1900’s Continued…

Once in power these machines were interested only in maintaining their power

They appointed cronies and criminals to important positions

As a result the cities were poorly run, corrupt, and many people suffered.

Lincoln SteffensLincoln Steffens

Through his articles and books, such as Through his articles and books, such as The Shame of the CitiesThe Shame of the Cities and and The Struggle The Struggle for Self-Governmentfor Self-Government; Steffens exposed ; Steffens exposed corrupt political machines in St. Louis, corrupt political machines in St. Louis, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York.Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York.

Steffens also spoke out about the exclusion Steffens also spoke out about the exclusion of African American voters in the southof African American voters in the south

SteffenSteffen’’s work paved the way for the s work paved the way for the break-up of these political machines as break-up of these political machines as well as important municipal legislation.well as important municipal legislation.

Upton SinclairUpton Sinclair

Born in Baltimore 1878Born in Baltimore 1878 Began writing at 15Began writing at 15 Became an active socialist in Became an active socialist in

the 1900the 1900’’ss Wrote a Wrote a ““novelnovel”” about about

immigrants working the immigrants working the Chicago stockyards in 1905… Chicago stockyards in 1905… The JungleThe Jungle

The JungleThe Jungle There would be meat stored in There would be meat stored in

great piles in rooms; and the great piles in rooms; and the water from leaky roofs would drip water from leaky roofs would drip over it, and thousands of rats over it, and thousands of rats would race about on it. It was too would race about on it. It was too dark in these storage places to dark in these storage places to see well, but a man could run his see well, but a man could run his hand over these piles of meat hand over these piles of meat and sweep off handfuls of the and sweep off handfuls of the dried dung of rats. These rats dried dung of rats. These rats were nuisances, and the packers were nuisances, and the packers would put poisoned bread out for would put poisoned bread out for them; they would die, and then them; they would die, and then rats, bread, and meat would go rats, bread, and meat would go into the hoppers together. into the hoppers together.

The JungleThe Jungle continued continuedThis is no fairy story This is no fairy story and no joke; the meat and no joke; the meat would be shoveled would be shoveled into carts, and the into carts, and the man who did the man who did the shoveling would not shoveling would not trouble to lift out a rat trouble to lift out a rat even when he saw even when he saw one – there were one – there were things that went into things that went into the sausage in the sausage in comparison with comparison with which a poisoned rat which a poisoned rat was a tidbit. was a tidbit.

Impact of The Jungle

President Theodore Roosevelt read the book and was horrified.

Impact of Impact of The JungleThe Jungle continuedcontinued As a result of As a result of

SinclairSinclair’’s book and s book and the Presidentthe President’’s s reaction, Congress reaction, Congress passed both the passed both the Pure Food and Pure Food and Drugs Act and the Drugs Act and the Meat Inspection Meat Inspection Act in 1906.Act in 1906.

Muckrakers: ConclusionsMuckrakers: Conclusions

Through their tireless individual and Through their tireless individual and collective efforts, this small group of collective efforts, this small group of people managed to fundamentally people managed to fundamentally change American society and change American society and government in the early 20government in the early 20thth century. century.

Have these changes been lasting Have these changes been lasting ones?ones?

Questions

Are you sure about the quality and content of the meat you consume?

Mad Cow DiseaseBird Flu

Questions

How well are your county and city governments being run?

Questions

How many people continue to live in dangerous slums and tenements?

QuestionsQuestions

Are there still Are there still monopolies monopolies controlling controlling prices and prices and purchasing purchasing competitors?competitors?