Muckrakers In The 1920's

Often being undermined, abused and neglected, even being denied the most basic rights. The cartoon shows the harrowing conditions of the workers. The workers can

The history of the muckraker’s started when a group of reporters and Journalist uncover and reveal unformal and discrimination of wrong doing so serious that it made the peoples blood over flow,1902 started the strike of Lincoln Steffens that was published in the McClure’s Magazine call “Tweed Days in ST. Louis”. Steffens uncover how city officials work in large business to keep their contract and power, taken money from the public treasure, while other article began to emerge, so Steffens wrote a book call “The Shame of the Cities”. The Muckraker’s came up with the truth fact about the Socio – economic, and political problem that was happen in American. There were many changes far as social and politics across the board from the19th century to the start of the 20th century raising the public opinion by the way of sickness that were brought on by industrial revolution for examples; the arrangement between large organization, political machines, and bad working conditions. There were four main muckraker’s who started it all, Ida Tarbell, Thomas Lawson, Ray Stannard and Steffens. The Muckraker’s was famous about doing wrong and telling on very important people in the society, they were call dirt and grime because they would stool to their lowest about political corruption, business, and government problem, they also put an end to advertising by boycotting, while the magazines fell into

They were protesting for the fact that the workers will get injured and they will suffer (Document A). No one was doing anything for the labor workers to be in better condition so they took matters into their own hands. Examples of unhealthy environment are those people that will work in a meat factory their hands were not sanitize to touch the meat (The Jungle by Upton Sinclair). The reason why not sanitize is because the workers will wash their hands in the water they will was the meat in. Mr. Sinclair, writes that the workers in the meat factor did not handle the meat safe and healthy for people to eat it. The workers will work around the dead rats. If anything fall to the ground and a rate was their the worker will still need to put that meat that fell to be mixed with the other meat even if it been contaminated. This will give the workers logical and explainable reasons for why they needed to protesting for wanting change for bettering their working conditions. There was a man

Hi Hakim, The problem with the railroad workers was serious. As you mention in your post several work related incidents were overlooked, many were lamed or even killed working on the railroad. For years, this event was covered up. I believe what help the citizens to realize how dangerous the working conditions be the journalist. In that era, they were called the muckraker. The Muckrakers targeted corrupted business and their illegal practices. (Diner, 1998). The muckraker were the ones that exposed deplorable working conditions, big business corruption, unfair wages and child labor. Changes in society started to improve when the public became aware of the conditions.

As the Progressive Era advanced rapidly into the 1920s, social tension and stigmas between upper class society and the working class continued to escalate. While class strain was not a new social issue, groups such as the muckrakers and drove the problem into a new realm of discrimination and humiliation for the lower class. As these journalists reported demeaning, and generally exaggerated, stories about poor living conditions in poverty stricken areas: “The so-called muckrakers were investigative journalists whose aggressive reporting played a crucial role in educating the upper and middle class about political and corporate wrongdoings as well as about ‘how the other half lives’ - the title of Jacob Riis’s pioneering work of photojournalism

The Progressive Era, which began in the late 1800’s, was a time spent addressing many of the problems that had been created from industrialization. Progressives, also known as the reformers, worked to improve the problems that a lack of regulations created, such as living conditions for the poor, the values of big businesses, and also demanded that the government became more responsive to the needs of it’s citizens. The journalists who dedicated their time to exposing these issues were known as muckrakers. The articles and novels written by muckrakers played a big role in the improvement of housing for the lower class and meat-packing factory regulations.

“Have you ever seen a fast-food ad that shows the factories where French fries are made? Ever seen a fast-food ad that shows the slaughterhouses where cattle are turned into ground beef? Ever seen an ad that tells you what’s really in your fast-food milkshake and why some strange-sounding chemicals make it taste so good? Ever seen an ad that shows overweight, unhealthy kids stuffing their faces with greasy fries at a fast-food restaurant? You probably haven’t. But you’ve probably seen a lot of fast-food commercials that show thin, happy children having a lot of fun.” (Schlosser et al). The book Chew on This explains and reveals almost everything to know about fast food and the process of making it. Each chapter is different. First there is the background of fast food restaurants, and then they get into the juice about the food itself. This book is a huge example of modern day muckraking. Muckraking is when a writer or publisher reveals scandalous information about people

The slums were packed with the urban poor. These people would be crammed into awfully built apartment buildings. There were roughly four families that would live on each floor. These building were called slum tenements. These buildings were placed side by side, therefore making them appear and feel even more crowded. Since these tenements were so incredibly crowded, fire and illness were a big hazard. Many city roads and sidewalks were made of wood which made them very flammable. If a fire was lit, it could spread to the crowded building forcing many people to attempt to evacuate, which was very difficult because of the tiny space and the surplus of people. Illness was another big issue. Illness would spread incredibly fast because of the horrid conditions of the tenements and again, the amount of people crammed in these spaces. Therefore, the slums are not suitable for any person, especially not one who needs an adequate amount of rest after an incredibly exhausting day at the factory.

“Tis night when I am free; A stranger am I to my child; And he one to me” (Document 2). This poem is about a mother (most likely) talking about her son. The fact that families were working such long hours, that they were strangers to each other is heartbreaking; employers should have been giving everyone a work period that wasn’t too long during the day, from sun-up to sun-down. “As countries industrialized, they also urbanized. This was a result of people moving in large numbers in order to gain factory jobs” (Document 6). Usually the tenements were extremely compact and cramped apartment-like. Employers must have had some sort of idea about how bad the living conditions were, but they still decided not to pay more to the employees, not caring how good or bad their living conditions were. “C: What time did you begin work at the factory? B: When I was six years old” (Document 7). This is an example of poor employers, because they were willing to send children into hard laborious work. At that age, they should have been trying to get a good education, not working. Employers giving jobs to little kids also caused children to eventually become deformed, “C: Did your deformity come upon you with much pain and weariness? B: Yes, I cannot express the pain all the time it was coming” (Document 7). The factory owners should have noticed this in small children, and decided to lay them off. Considering most employers didn’t

During the 20th century, the people of America had to adjust to new desires, lifestyles, and the new materialistic economy. After entering World War I, the aftermath included false positives that in the end, turned out to be complete negatives. Citizens of America possessed materialistic beliefs that led to disappointments. African Americans were confronted by atrocious social conditions. The frustrations faced by many Americans living in the 1920s, included the desires for materialistic possessions in hopes of contentment, the aspirations for freedom and the dignified need for racial equality, are all elucidated in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story, “Winter Dreams”, and both poems, “Democracy” by Langston Hughes and “The White House” by Claude Mckay.

The nineteen twenties can be summed up as one of the most important improvements on theatre, paintings, music, building, and culture.

In 1836 writers for a newspaper called The Harbinger had the opportunity to examine the life of factory workers. People had come forward and shared information about the poor conditions in the factories but they could not verify any of it. The writers wanted to provide readers of The Harbinger with a credible account of the day to day life of worker so they went to factories in Lowell, Massachusetts and Manchester, New Hampshire. While at the factories the writers inspected the boarding houses, interviewed female operatives, and even ate meals in the boarding houses to help understand the life of the average worker.

During the decades of the 1920s and 1930s, the United States underwent a series of changes that had a drastic effect on people across the nation. As the economy began to slow to a halt, millions of people were left broke and without jobs. As the country’s farmers were paralyzed with debt, food prices increased radically (McElvaine). During the mid-1930s, a series of droughts coupled with poor agricultural methods led to years of soil erosion and dust storms known as the Dust Bowl, a catastrophe that destroyed farms throughout the Southern Great Plains (Shafer, Low). As a result, many farmers were forced to abandon their land to seek employment elsewhere. These migrant workers, attracted by the fertility and familiarity of the area, traveled to California towns such as Salinas, where they labored tirelessly for wealthy planters (Cayton, Gorn, Williams). The events of the Great Depression Era, following years of difficulty and poverty, paved the way to an entirely new way of life for Americans.

The counter culture of the 1920’s has affected the way the American lifestyle is today. Counter culture is a culture that primarily consists of younger people, with values and lifestyles opposing those of the original established culture. (Dictionary.com) A need for change. The 1920’s are also known as the “Jazz Age,” which was coined by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the “Roaring Twenties.” It was a decade of change. (Hakim, 41) The counterculture of the 1920’s resulted from the Age of Jazz, Flappers, and the Harlem Renaissance.

Mass media during the 1920s united the nation and created an economic boom in new areas of entertainment and leisure. As technology advanced, new forms of communication and entertainment began to rise. A variety of new entertainment like radio, magazines, and movies with sound became common and popular. Over 700 films were produced each year, over 100 million radios were in use, and LIFE magazine had over 250,000 readers in the year 1920 alone. The demand of new forms of media began to increase due to the thirst to live vicariously through the personas they see and hear all around them. Mass media in the 1920s united the country, controlled individual consumption, and propelled American consumerism.