Muckrakers During The Progressive Era Essay

During the Progressive Era, many journalists and writers showed the world the harsh realities, and social discrimination of many Americans during this time. These reformers were also known as muckrakers. For example, Lincoln Steffens, Ida Tarbell, Jacob Riis, Upton Sinclair, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and Mary Church Terrell helped better society by exposing the disturbing truth about many Americans' struggles. They did extensive research, investigating, journaling, and writing to change the United States and make it a more fair country for all. This essay argues why muckrakers played a key role in American society, and without their effort and perseverance, the United States would not have been the same. By looking at what these reformers did,

Although there were many issues in the United States, one particular one was the mistreatment of many workers. Upton Sinclair wrote the book The Jungle, which drew attention to this issue. Many factories or businesses had unfair wages, unsafe conditions, and an unsanitary work environment. Sinclair wanted to address how it was unfair for the wealthy to get their money from many overworked, mistreated workers. He addressed how capitalism is poor, unequal, and brutal in his and many others' eyes. His book was for the betterment of workers' rights and drew mass amounts of attention to these various unsolved issues, pushing many politicians to act. Sinclair influenced many acts to be passed later on with the help of other reformers like himself. Upton Sinclair’s book The Jungle exposed the treacherous conditions and unsanitary work environment of the Chicago stockyard. Although bad for the government, it led to numerous reforms being made. This had a lasting positive effect because of the acts that had happened in response to The Jungle. These acts guarantee that consumer products are safer by having them made in hygienic and sanitary

She wanted to better the country to make it more equal for all its citizens. In her speech “The Progress of Colored Women” she discusses how although there have been tremendous changes, still many African American women struggle. She explains how the right to an education should be for every human, no matter age or gender. Although she states how the country has evolved in her speech “The Progress of Colored Women” it says, “Not only are colored women with ambition and aspiration handicapped on account of their sex, but they are almost everywhere baffled and mocked because of their race. Not only because they are women, but because they are colored women, discouragement and disappointment meet them at every turn” (Terrell). She put forward the fact that no matter what colored women achieve, there will always be social prejudice against them due to their ethnicity and gender. After writing this speech she worked vigorously along with the National Association of Colored Women to gain women's voting rights and achieve equal rights. She impacted society in many positive ways and did not stop fighting until women of color got the rights that they