MuckrakersWhat is a Muckraker? _____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________.

Upton Sinclair: The Jungle What public issue did he take on?

How did he make his case?

What “muck” did he rake? (i.e. What did he reveal? What was his evidence?)

How do you think things changed after him?

Jacob Riis: How the other half livesWhat public issue did he take on?

How did he make his case?

What “muck” did he rake? (i.e. What did hereveal? What was his evidence?)

How do you think things changed after him?

John Spargo: The bitter cry of children What public issue did he take on?

How did he make his case?

What “muck” did he rake? (i.e. What did he reveal? What was his evidence?)

How do you think things changed after him?

Questions to Consider:

1. What sort of influence do you think the muckrakers had?

2. To whom do you think their message was being aimed?

3. Who do you think were the biggest critics of the muckrakers? Why?

4. What level of government (local, state, or federal) was in the best position to solve the problems exposed by the muckrakers? Why?

How to Deal With the “Muck”As you have seen, the muckrakers of the era were a group of socially conscious journalists who set out to expose the corruption and societal filth they saw around them. In the process, they opened the eyes of many citizens, who were not aware that such ghastly things as human hands or rats were in their food, or that children were being forced to work in such miserable conditions.

The ultimate goal of the muckrakers, however, was to create a more active government; a government that would be willing to step in and solve the problems that seemed to be engulfing society as a result of industrialization.

You and your group will be assigned one of the issues brought forward by the muckrakers above: the food industry (from Upton Sinclair), urban decay and strife (from Jacob Riis), and the working lives of children (from John Spargo). Using your knowledge from Government class all those years ago, you will develop a bill that will seek to solve the problems put forth by the muckrakers.

Your bill should include the following:

• A name

• A description of what action the bill is intended to stop

• What sorts of punishments the bill will inflict on those who break the law

◦ The punishments should be realistic; no executions, for example. You're more likely to stick with fines and maybe some jail time...whatever you think will get people to do your desired behavior

• The changes you want to see made in your particular industry

◦ What sorts of things would make the people better off?

• The downsides to your bill

◦ What are some of the bad things that could happen to society as a result of your bill?