Muckrakers In The Progressive Era

Child Labor During The Progressive Era Before the extensive reforms in child labor during the Progressive Era, a substantial number of children were working with long hours and meager salaries, especially after the industrialization of factories. Due to the fact that business owners found many benefits in hiring children rather than adults, such as their smaller sizes and lower salary requirements, child labor was extremely widespread. The census of 1890 disclosed the fact that more than a million children, who ranged from the ages of 10-15, endured child labor. Children experienced many ailments such as heavy coal dust from working with coal and fumes from glasswork. Child Labor

Throughout history, children have always worked, either as apprentices or servants. However, child labor reached a whole new scale during the time period of the Industrial Revolution. Throughout the time frame of late 1800s-early 1900s, children worked long hours in dangerous factory conditions for very little wages. They were considered useful as laborers because their small stature allowed them to be cramped into smaller spaces, and they could be paid less for their services. Many worked to help support their families, and by doing so, they forwent their education. Numerous nineteenth century reformers and labor groups sought to restrict child labor and to improve working conditions.

Throughout the 1700’s and the early 1800’s child labor was a major issue in American society. Children have always worked for family businesses whether it was an agricultural farming situation or working out of a family business in some type of workplace. This was usually seen in families of middle or lower class because extra help was needed to support the family. Child labor dramatically changed when America went through the Industrial Revolution. When America’s industrial revolution came into play, it opened a new world to child labor. Children were now needed to work in factories, mills, and mines. These were not ordinary jobs for young children, these jobs required much time, effort, and hard work. “American

The turn of the 20th century sparked a movement of reform. It included large groups and individuals with a passion and desire to make life better during the industrial age. Their ideas and works were known as progressivism, as reformers wanted to improve, change, and build upon society, government, and much more. One of the biggest progressive groups to emerge during this time were the muckrakers. Samuel Hopkins Adams was one of the most important muckrakers during the Progressive Era.

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

Child labour, which began in the early 1800’s and ended around the 1920’s. Child labour was commonly used to help poor/immigrant families receive more money. According to history.com it states, “25 percent of the employees were below the age of fifteen, with half of these children below age twelve. In addition, the horrendous conditions of work for many child laborers brought the issue to public attention.” This reveals children worked even below the age of 15 and even 12 years old. They weren't given tolerable working conditions despite their young age. Also according to american-historama.org it states, “The typical hours of work lasted from sunrise to sunset, 11 or 12 hours per day, six days a week. They had less than one hour break in their working day … They earned an average weekly wage of one dollar.” This shows children worked a considerable number of hours and only earned little wage. Lastly according to scholastic.com it says “Many children began working before the age of 7, tending machines in spinning mills or hauling heavy loads. The factories were often damp, dark, and dirty. Some children worked underground, in coal mines. The working children had no time to play or go to school, and little time to rest. They often became ill.” This shows at very young ages children began work as they worked in damp, dark, and dirty work areas. However in

The role the Muckrakers played in the Progressive Era was investigate journalism that exposed waste, industry, and society. The Muckrakers were U.S journalist. They were part of the Progressive Era. Theodore Roosevelt invented the term "Muckrakers."

One problem in the 1900s was child labor, which was not an uncommon sight in the factories. The children who worked at these factories would be exposed to harsh chemicals and could possibly lose and arm or limb to the machineries. Children as young as 16 years old would work in those unsafe, overcrowded factories instead of going to school to receive an education. To resolve the child labor issue, many states begun passing laws that made child labor illegal. As shown in the illustration in document 7, the state of Georgia passed the Georgia Child Labor laws, which took children out of Georgia Factories and into schools for education (document 7). Also shown in document 2, in

Muckrakers – Among the first people to articulate the new spirit of national reform. Crusading journalists who began to direct public attention toward social, economic, and political injustices. They were committed to exposing scandal and corruption. Their first major targets included the trusts and also the railroads. They were given this name after Theodore Roosevelt accused them of raking up muck through their writings. Their actions helped lead to the development of the “Social Gospel.”

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 United States is a country that has been built on political, economical and social reform. One revolutionary era in particular that has played a major role in the establishment of new laws and acts which are used today is the Progressive Era. The Progressive Era was an age of political reform during the late 1800’s to early 1920’s, which also contained a lot of social advocacy for workers’ rights. Before the social reforms began in this era, there were numerous instances where poor and immigrant individuals were abused by corrupt political systems. In order to expose the corruption, many journalists who became known as “muckrakers” began writing for popular magazines during the Progressive Era. One journalist who ultimately shed the

Today’s commonplace ‘calling out’ of unfair practises in business and government owes its foundation to Muckrakers in the early 20th century. Muckraking in contrast it is the exposing of the foulest of conditions that need exposure to bring out change. In the early 1900’s laws for health concerns did not exist in the workplace, So businesses’ would cut corners. Any concerns hidden from the public are leaked out by Muckrakers who investigated a specific workplace.

“Muckrakers”. Who do they consist of? What do they represent? According to President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, this term was used to criticize and insult certain journalists who went too far in the pursuit of their stories. Since decades this term has had negative definitions in society, so how can investigative journalist Jessica Mitford be delighted to accept the unappealing title of “Queen of the Muckrakers”. Although some may say that the term is an excellent way to describe the passionate journalists who are seeking juicy information about prominent individuals and businesses, I strongly believe it does not correctly allude to whom they actually resemble in our realistic society today.

The primary indications of Investigative Journalism began appearing amid the Progressive Era. The Progressive Era was an era of social reform and investigative journalists constructed many writing pieces to funny cartoons voicing out the issues brought by the Industrial Revolution. Investigative Journalists were once called muckrakers, similar to what they do today, were journalists who attacked political corruption and social problems of their society.

In a society, journalism is a valued skill. Journalists gather information that is then transmitted to the rest of society through what they write, say and do. Without journalism, how would someone in California know the crisis that are occurring in countries across the world? However, in 20th century, investigative journalism was criticized and their reporters were called “muckrakers” by President Theodore Roosevelt. Most journalist took offense to this derogatory name. They were being discriminated because they did their job and uncovered what others wanted to be hidden. Therefore, it is a true honor to be called a “muckraker”, because investigative journalists unmask the corruption and criminality that occurs in both corporations and politics.