Muckrakers During The Progressive Era

The Progressive Era was a time period between 1890-1920 in U.S. history, where the world was stable and perfect in appearance, but behind the surface, was corrupt. With the Industrial Era also occurring at this very time pollution, poverty, and disease plagued cities. It was the job of muckrakers to expose this corrupt world and unveil it. Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens, and Upton Sinclair were all famous muckrakers of their time. Ida was a journalist who investigated the corruption of businesses, more specifically John. D Rockefeller. Lincoln Steffens was a reporter in New York City. During his career, he wrote the well known book, The Shame of the Cities, revealing the dishonest and unethical city government. Upton Sinclair was one of the

Through Tarbell's work the end of enormous and controlling businesses ended. Monopolies were certificated, allowing for smaller family owned businesses to spring up, giving the economy a boost. Her work also led to safer working conditions and better treatment of workers including a change in work hours, environment, and pay. Lincoln Steffens helped end the corrupted government in the

Even though the law was written, people were reluctant to conform. The South even more reluctant. In 1957, three years after the signing of the Executive Order that desegregated schools, nine African Americans were the first to be enrolled into a desegregated high school in the South. The high schoolers attended Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Despite the law, Southerns outburst to this action. The Nine were screamed at, threaten death, beatings, and cussed at. Crowds of people surrounded the high school screaming their opposition, as the kids tried to enter the school. The Arkansas Governor resulted to calling in the Arkansas National Guard to stand in front of the school to prevent the Nine from entering. The Nine themselves remained passive throughout the entire dilemma. Interviews revealed that the student only wanted to completely their education. Media, exposed the entire incident to the country, including President Eisenhower. Angered from the reactions of the people and the governor, Eisenhower sent the 101st Airborne Divison of the United States Army to escort and protect the students to, from, and around the campus. Eisenhower believed strongly in the desegregation of schools and knew he'd have to enforce it upon those who were unwilling to change. Time progressed and people started to accept that the Nine were going to stay. Therefore, began the