Muckrakers and Reformers

What is a Muckraker? A muckraker is an individual who seeks to expose or reveal corruption of businesses or government to the public. The term originates from writers of the Progressive movement in America who wanted to expose corruption and scandals in government and business. American Progressive Era—unearth corruption

McClure’s Magazine Founded in 1893 by Samuel McClure Began specializing in muckraking journalism in 1902 Journalists included: Ida Tarbell (Standard Oil) Lincoln Steffens (municipal corruption)

Ida Tarbell - Muckraker Investigative journalism Wrote The History of Standard Oil Company (1904) #5 Top 100 works of journalism of the 20th century NYT Wrote for McClure Magazine Negative exposé of the business practices of Rockefeller and trusts. Tarbell’s efforts led to the eventual breakup of the Standard Oil monopoly in 1911.

By 1890 Standard Oil controlled over 90% of the refined oil flows in the United States. Standard Oil achieved its monopoly through aggressive and often illegal business practices: Purchasing competitors Undercutting prices Shady deals with the railroads Standard Oil went so far as to destroy a competing oil refinery right here in Buffalo Oil could not leave the oil field unless Standard Oil agreed to move it.

Lincoln Steffens - Muckraker The son of a wealthy businessman 1902-1911 editor of McClure’s Magazine Published books and articles focusing on municipal corruption Through his articles and books, such as The Shame of the Cities and The Struggle for Self-Government; Steffens exposed corrupt political machines in St. Louis, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York. Steffens also spoke out about the exclusion of African American voters in the south Steffen’s work paved the way for the break-up of these political machines as well as important municipal legislation.

Lewis Hine - Muckraker Photojournalism Sought Social Reform National Child Labor Committee to document child labor/expose corruption.

Thomas Nast - Muckraker Father of the American Political Cartoon Exposed political corruption in NYC (Boss—William Tweed) Brought about Tweed’s downfall Harper’s Weekly

The City Boss The best example of a City boss was Boss Tweed Tweed helped immigrants get jobs and gave them turkeys a Christmas and year after year immigrants voted for Tweed. Tweed stole 100 million dollars from NYC through graft and corruption. Tweed was finally thrown out of office because Thomas Nast drew cartoons that showed the evil and corrupt nature of the Tweed ring. The immigrants who could understand the cartoons now voted Tweed out of power… a picture speaks a thousand words.

Jacob Riis - Muckraker Journalist Exposed corrupt living arrangements in New York City's slums. How the Other Half Lives—18 page article - 1889 Became a book How the Other Half Lives, subtitled "Studies among the Tenements of New York“ Pioneer in photography

Upton Sinclair - Muckraker Author – The Jungle Graphic account of filthy handling, spoiled meat, and generally unsanitary conditions in stockyards. As a result of Sinclair’s book, Congress passed both the Pure Food and Drugs Act and the Meat Inspection Act in 1906.

Ida B. Wells - Muckraker Ida B. Wells – journalist Started an anti-lynching campaign in her newspaper Documented lynching in the U. S. Showed how it was often a way to control or punish blacks who competed with whites, often under the guise of rape charges. She was active in the women's suffrage movement.

Jane Addams - Reformer Established the Hull House in Chicago. Located in poor neighborhood Middle-class, college-educated women shared skills with less fortunate women and children. Sanitation, hygiene, English, etc. Art exhibits, poetry readings, concerts, and theatrical events Strong supporter of Women’s Suffrage Received the Nobel Peace Prize

John Muir - Reformer Naturalist, explorer, and author Major figure in the forest conservation movement Muir Woods

Susan B. Anthony - Reformer Led the fight for women's suffrage for more than 50 years. Anthony was arrested for voting in 1872 In 1890 formed the National American Woman Suffrage Association

Frances Willard - Reformer Temperance Crusade Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) Frances Willard leader of the WCTU Anti-Saloon League Efforts led to the 18th Amendment Prohibition http://prohibition.osu.edu/Willard/; http://prohibition.history.ohio-state.edu/asl/OhioDry1.htm Anti-Saloon League Campaign

W.E.B. DuBois - Reformer He encouraged African Americans to reject segregation Help to found the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) NAACP – played a major role in ending segregation in the 20th century

Booker T. Washington - Reformer Born in Slavery Early leader in the effort to achieve equality 1881 he founded the Tuskegee Institute – help African American learn a trade and become economically stable He did not openly challenge segregation He said, “In purely social matters” whites and blacks “can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress