Were the Muckrakers able to bring about lasting change in the Progressive Era?
During the Progressive Era (1890-1920) in American History, authors and photographers known as
Muckrakers exposed the problems associated with urban life during the Industrial Revolution. One of
the most famous of these Muckrakers was Upton Sinclair. Upton Sinclair was able to use his writing to
expose problems associated with meat packing, food safety, the oil industry, coal industry and poverty.
He wrote both fiction and non-fiction and many of his books were best sellers during his life. He ran for
office, including the governorship of California with a promise to “End Poverty in California.” He was not
elected. In 1906, Sinclair published “The Jungle” in both a novel form and in weekly publications. He
largely impacted the perception of the public on the Meat Packing industry. Just six months later, the
Federal Meat Inspection Act was passed by congress and signed into law by Theodore Roosevelt.
At the same time, many muckrakers were working to improve working conditions for all types of
laborers. As a group, discuss your observations and insights from the following documents:
Whose account of the meat packing industry do you find most believable?
Compare the experience of workers in the 1906 excerpt from “The Jungle” to the 1979 interview of a
Longmont turkey plant worker (Document C). In what ways did the experience change over 70 years?
In what ways did it remain the same?
What was important about the use of immigrant workers in 1906 and 1979? How was the experience
different for the Lithuanian and Mexican-American workers?
In Chapter III of “The Jungle” Upton Sinclair paints a picture in words of the wonderful site of the meat
packing plant. Why is Jurgis so excited to work there?
In examining Photo A and B, identify the purpose of the pictures. Who was included and what tone
do they say about the turkey plant. Now examine photo C and D taken at the Swift factory in
Chicago. Describe how you see the working conditions at the plant.
Do you believe the working conditions are safe and fair?
Document A:
“The Jungle” by Upton Sinclair. Available on Google Books, https://goo.gl/B2GcNY
Read Chapter III.
Document B:
An Employment Option for Migrants: The Turkey Plant, 1979
""An Employment Option for Migrants: The Turkey Plant": El Aguila Interview with Plant Management,."
Boulder County Latino History, 1979. Web. 10 Aug. 2015.
<http://bocolatinohistory.colorado.edu/document/an-employment-option-for-migrants-the-turkeyplant-el-aguila-interview-with-plant>.
Document C:
""Hard Work, Low Pay": El Aguila Interview with Manuel Rodriguez, P. 1." "Hard Work, Low Pay": El
Aguila, Interview with Manuel Rodriguez, P. 1. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2015.
<http://bocolatinohistory.colorado.edu/document/hard-work-low-pay-el-aguila-interview-with-manuelrodriguez-p-1>.
Photo A:
Photo B:
"Turkey Plant Workers." Turkey Plant Workers. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2015. <http://bocolatinohistory.colorado.edu/photograph/turkey-plantworkers>.
Photo C:
Making link sausages, Swift & Co.'s Packing House, Chicago
Photographic print on stereo card
Library of Congress, DC
Photo D:
Swift and Company Packing House, Chicago, 1905
Library of Congress
Extensions:
Study how the meat packing industry has changed in the last century. A good resource to start your
research, or to show some video is available on PBS.
"Food Fight." NOW. PBS, 15 Dec. 2006. Web. 10 Aug. 2015.
<http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/250/index.html>.
Research the founding of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). What was their original purpose?
What role do they serve now?
Visit a local meat packing or other food production plant. How do you see workers’ rights and safety
being maintained?
"Turkey Plant Workers." Turkey Plant Workers. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2015.
<http://bocolatinohistory.colorado.edu/photograph/turkey-plant-workers>.