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The Progressive Era: The Muckrakers
“The pen is mightier than the sword.”
Many literary minds of the late 1800’s began to consider the corruption and exploitation involving large companies. Naturally, they put their talents
to work, most often using fiction based on fact, but sometimes writing straight documentaries. The tem “muckrakers” was coined by Theodore
Roosevelt in 1906 in reference to their ability to uncover “muck”, or “dirt.”
Muckraker
Thomas Nast
Ida Tarbell
Problem Exposed by Muckraker
Method used to expose
the problem
Reform(s) made as a
result
Muckraker
Upton Sinclair
Jacob Riis
Problem Exposed by Muckraker
Method used to solve the
problem
Reform(s) made as a result