1. Progressivism: Muckrakers & Reformers

2. Conditions: Urban Environment
Read the article, “Cities During the Progressive Era”
Answer the questions in the text
Details
By 1900: 30% of US population lived in cities
Urban poor: overcrowding, unpaved streets, disease and inadequate water supply
Urban poor: working class made just enough money to survive
After students read, they should share in table groups
Then call on randomly to share out
They need to jot down the details above in their workbook

3. Images: Urban Environment
There are no “notes” to add, but point out these images
Large family, looks like an attic, hanging clothes from rafters

4. Images: Urban Environment
Common urban environment
Bags of trash
Rickety stairs
Particle board, plywood on the ground to deal with the mud
Buildings just “popped up” and there were no building codes to ensure safetfy

5. Images: Urban Environment
Small alleyways
Unsafe conditions
The randomness of buildings

6. Images: Urban Environment
Lean to type of building built onto an existing structure
Tough conditions

7. Images: Urban Environment
Again, dirty and dangerous conditions, no safety codes

8. Images: Urban Environment
Crowded streets
Vertically built

9. Images: Urban Environment
Small dark alleyways
Kids hanging out
Dangerous

10. Igniting Reform
At first, journalists and other writers had enormous influence on public opinion.
Muckrakers
Journalists alerting the public to wrongdoing in politics and business.
Many Americans were inspired to take action through reform.
To put or change into an improved form or condition.
Students will need to take notes
Explain the various images:
Teddy Roosevelt – raking up the “meat scandal” from The Jungle
TR again – this time dealing with the senate
Women advocating for change

11. Muckraker: Upton Sinclair
Author – The Jungle
Graphic account of filthy handling, spoiled meat, and generally unsanitary conditions in stockyards.
Meat packing industry
"I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach."

12. Upton Sinclair
Read the excerpt from The Jungle [on page 11] and answer the questions
Have students read and answer without talking
Small group discussion then whole class conversation

13. This outlines the pork packing industry
First one says killing, then cutting, rendering and salting
Point out the unsanitary conditions that could exist

14. Upton Sinclair – Changes
Meat Inspection Act
Required federal inspection of meat sold across state lines
Set standards for cleanliness of meatpacking plants
Pure Food and Drug Act
Prohibited the manufacture, sale, or shipment of impure or falsely labeled food and drugs
Notes for students on page 11 – very bottom corner

15. “The slum is the measure of civilization.”
Muckraker: Jacob Riis
Photographer – How The Other Half Lives
Startling print and photographic exposés of conditions in New York City's slums.
Click on the hyperlink to show a bio of Riis – pronounced “Reese”
“The slum is the measure of civilization.”

16. Muckraker: Ida Tarbell
Author – The History of the Standard Oil Company
Condemnation of Standard Oil’s monopoly.
“Rockefeller and his associates did not build the Standard Oil Co. in the board rooms of Wall Street banks. They fought their way to control by rebate and drawback, bribe and blackmail, espionage and price cutting, by ruthless ... efficiency of organization.”
She called out one of the wealthiest men in society – very very brave woman

17. Reformer: Jane Addams 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
Very concerned about education – helping ppor immigrant women do better for themselves and for their children
"America's future will be determined by the home and the school. The child becomes largely what it is taught, hence we must watch what we teach it, and how we live before it."

18. Reformer: John Muir
Naturalist, explorer, and author
Major figure in the forest conservation movement
Great documentary about Muir meeting with Roosevelt and his focus on preserving nature – Muir was very inspirational to Roosevelt’s conservation policies
"In God's wildness lies the hope of the world—the great fresh, unblighted, unredeemed wilderness."

19. Reformer: Susan B. Anthony
Led the fight for women's suffrage for more than 50 years.
"The true republic: men, their rights and nothing more; women, their rights and nothing less."
Was arrested for trying to vote
Mother of the suffrage movement
"It may be delayed longer than we think; it may be here sooner than we expect; but the day will come when man will recognize woman as his peer, not only at the fireside but in the councils of the nation.”

20. Analysis – answer in workbook
In what ways did the muckrakers change America?
Give one or two examples of modern day “muckrakers” – be sure to provide a reason why they would be considered a muckraker.
Students should answer these questions in their workbook