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Muckrakers In The Early 1900s

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Unveiling the American Truth In the early 1900s, America faced many problems including corruption and social discrimination. During this time, people labeled as “muckrakers” were considered a group of determined reformers. These muckrakers aim to make a difference in society. People like Lincoln Steffens, Ida Tarbell, Jacob Riis, Upton Sinclair, Ida B. Wells, and Mary Church Terrel worked very hard to expose the harsh realities faced by many Americans and they pushed for changes that made the society more fair. Their investigative journalism, powerful storytelling, and detailed research led them to expose problems and inspire public outrage, which ultimately led to significant reforms. Muckrakers were essential in pushing for social, political, …show more content…

These articles helped mobilize citizens towards advocating for changes in the government. Without the endeavor of Lincoln Steffens’ investigative journalism, these articles would not have been brought to the public's attention. Therefore his efforts were important in the Progressive Era reforms, which contributed to public awareness, and conclusively led to significant improvements in the government. Ida Tarbell's investigative journalism was essential in revealing the improper practices of Standard Oil and encouraging reform. Tarbell wrote about John D. Rockefeller’s takeover of the Standard Oil Company, her book was titled The History of the Standard Oil Company. Her research included, interviews with former employees of the oil company and the examination of company records. This showed how Rockefeller became so dominant, and how he created a monopoly by taking over many railroads and even other oil businesses. She wrote, “To the owners of these refineries Mr. Rockefeller now went one by one, and explained the South Improvement Company [the new trust]. ‘You see,’ he told them, ‘this scheme is bound to

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Tarbell had a concern about the monopolies due to the experiences she had as a child. Growing up in the south, and seeing her father struggle to keep the family business from going under. She really focused in on the topic of business and the large companies. (The Biography.com editors, "Ida Tarbell Biography") Tarbell is best known for her series “The History of the Standard Oil Company” published from 1902 through 1904.

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In this book she writes “So long as the Standard Oil Company can control transportation as it does to-day, it will remain master of the oil industry, and the people of the United States will pay for their indifference and folly. . . .”(Tarbell). After years of battling the Standard Oil Company they were brought to the supreme court and in 1911 The Standard Oil Company was shut down because it was under violation of the Sherman Antitrust

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Muckraker 's Goal was to expose , understand, and promote changes.

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Ida did not hesitate to criticize Rockefeller for stooping to unethical business practices in quest for his numerous successes. Her writings were credited with the eventual breakup of Standard Oil, which came after the U.S Supreme Court rule in 1911, that the company was violating the Sherman Antitrust act. The Sherman Antitrust act allowed only Congress to regulate interstate commerce. Ida Tarbell and Ida B. Wells have much more in common than just their names. Both have exposed underlying issues in American society through pieces of writings, persistence, and course of actions they took.

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By the early 20th century, millions of Americans were engaged in oil-related industries; this increased employment. Rockefeller saw the vast potential of the industry, as he described: “We saw the vast possibilities of the oil industry, stood at the center of it, and brought our knowledge and imagination and business experience to bear in a dozen, in twenty, in thirty directions.” Much of Rockefeller’s whole life was characterized by various business-related controversies for his aggressive expanding desire but by the later parts of his life he became to be remembered as a philanthropist for his charitable efforts. The overall image of Rockefeller had varied significantly depending on who he was viewed, for example, his ex-competitors, politicians and critical biographizes.

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The role of the muckrakers during the Progressive Era was to expose the problems and political corruption along with investigating and reporting the news that was true so all can be aware. The way the muckrakers worked to change the ills of society and big businesses was by exposing people and the companies for what they were doing and to bring the information to the people. Three famous muckrakers during the Progressive era include but not limited to Upton Sinclair, Ida Tarbell, and Jacob Riis. Upton Sinclair, known for his article called the jungle. It exposed the unsanitary conditions in the United States meatpacking industry, and his work led to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906 and the Meat Inspection Act. This is what

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Muckrakers and unions helped by protesting against the dangerous conditions, unfair treatment, and dishonest dealings during the Progressive Era. These ordinary citizens often used writing or pictures to show the corruption of businesses and cruelty toward workers to the public. A prime example of this is Ida M. Tarbell, whose articles lead to the breaking up of Rockefeller’s oil monopoly. Tarbell wrote about social issues for McClure’s magazine, and in 1902, she published “The History of the Standard Oil Company”, which criticized corruption in the dominant oil corporation. Her writings made the public both aware of the issue and angry about it, and the growing outrage lead to the government disbanding the Standard Oil Company on the idea that it was a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

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George Rice, a small businessman who was ousted by Rockefeller’s oil monopoly, stated, “I am but one of the many victims of Rockefeller’s colossal combination… the railroads were in league with the Standard Oil concern at every point, giving it discriminating rates and privileges… against myself…” (George Rice, “How I Was Ruined By Rockefeller”). The account by Rice underlined how his business failed to compete with the alliance of Rockefeller’s company and the railroads. Since the Standard Oil company had an absolute monopoly, it would work with the railroad companies to crush any competition, like that of Rice. With the rise of large industry and their monopolization, the economy of the US was largely controlled by the dominant companies.

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She was the writer of the novel The History of Standard Oil which depicted how John D. Rockefeller was a corrupt man who wished to take over the whole industry of the oil company. “To know every detail of the oil trade, to be able to reach at any moment its remotest point, to control even its weakest factor—that was John D. Rockefeller’s ideal of doing business. ”3 This here showed society how the inner working of the monopolies such as the oil companies and possibly the steel companies worked. The awareness that was raised by Tarbell lead to the restrictions that certain businesses must follow in the Clayton Anti-trust Act of 1914.

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Social Reform Movements: The Progressive Era saw the rise of various social reform movements aimed at addressing the social and economic inequalities resulting from industrialization. Progressives advocated for reforms such as labor rights, women's suffrage, child labor laws, and improved working conditions. Muckraking Journalism: Journalists known as muckrakers exposed corruption and abuses of power in government and industry. Their investigative reporting, often published in magazines like McClure's and Cosmopolitan, helped to raise public awareness and spur calls for

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During the Progressive Era (1890 – 1920) the pen was used to combat social ills and evils and made calls for reform. Progressivism depended upon newspapers and magazines to inform the public about political corruption and social problems. During this period, there was a popular group of Americans known as the Muckrakers. They were the first investigative journalist who sought to expose evils of modern, industrial and urban capitalist society. The muckrakers got their nickname from Theodore Roosevelt, who said that crusading journalists were “often indispensable to... society, but only if they know when to stop raking the muck” (America: A Narrative History, 780).

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The Truth Shall be Known Behind all the social media we have seen today and heard about, there must be a story behind them all. For the good or for the better. Muckraking journalists helped to point out the wrongs in the society and politics at the end of the nineteenth century because of the start of the Progressive Era exposed abuse of power, child labor, and to help change the US National policy today. Influence modern muckrakers to expose today’s issues like sterilization in female prisons and Ferguson.

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These progressive views were often published and voiced by journalists. These journalists would expose the injustices and corruptions occurring and were dubbed muckrakers. Whether in established groups or voicing an individual opinion, numerous people started fighting injustices due to morality or religious reasons. (Norton,

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But she found the cost of its success too great: the power it amassed, like all absolute power in history, was used against the public”(Baughman, Bondi, Layman, McConnell, & Tompkins, eds., 1998). The Standard Oil Company benefitted greatly due to Tarbell’s preparation and guidance in the process of advancing the company altogether. Without her doings, the public wouldn’t of been as interested in the production provided. Her actions and roles, including working with the Standard Oil Company, only added to her vital personale in society as far as economically and politically.

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Rockefeller was also one of the most successful wealthy Gilded Age entrepreneurs. Although Rockefeller did make a name for himself in the oil industry,supplying the U.S with oil, and creating the Standard Oil Company;his road to power was paved with the pain and suffering of others due to his malicious behavior. He should be remembered as a Robber Baron because of his attempts at monopoly, malicious behavior to those who stood in his way, and especially the treatment of his workers in order to get the wealth he desired. J.D. Rockefeller used tactics such as vertical integration, using rebates to transport his oil for cheaper prices, and using ruthless methods to eliminate the competition. Rockefellers ruthlessness lead him to be very successful up until his fatal encountered with Ida Tarbell.

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