Progressivism: A Social Movement

160 Words1 Pages
Progressivism began as a social movement but had major impacts in the political arena. Processed meat and patent medications had been a concern for years but didn’t make any progress until 1906 when a fictional book called The Jungle was published. The books grueling details alerted the public to appalling conditions in which their food was being processed in the meatpacking industry. Although the book’s intention was to call attention to the bigger picture of poor working class and harsh working conditions, it focused the public’s eye on the issue of disturbing meat processing antics. An investigation ordered by President Roosevelt found the description of food processing in The Jungle was an accurate account of reality. The brought the