Muckrakers and the
Progressives
Objectives:
The students will…
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Be able to define the term “muckraker”
Be able to assess the significance of Jacob Riis, Upton Sinclair, and Charles Beard
Identify some of the major social concerns of the Progressive era
Assess the role photography played in addressing social wrongs
Materials:
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Etext of Upton Sinclair’s book, The Jungle
The Progressive Party’s 1912 Platform
Photographs of Jacob Riis
The Pure Food and Drug Act (Wiley Act) 1905
Charles Beard and the An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United
States
Optional:
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Etext of Theodore Dreiser’s Sister Carrie
Mission statement of the Food and Drug Administration
Additional Resources:
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The Women’s Suffrage Movement at the Library of Congress
The role of women in the Progressive Era
Background:
The Progressive Era was one of major reform in the United States. The government passed
major pieces of legislation that were designed to improve society and living conditions for
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Americans. Likewise, there was an effort to make the Constitution more democratic by allowing
for the direct election of Senators and by enfranchising women.
1. Have the students research the term “muckraker” and identify its origin and meaning.
a. This term was allegedly created by Theodore Roosevelt based on a passage from
Pilgrim’s Progress. The idea was that they were looking for the dirt in society
rather than the good.
2. Have the students look at Upton Sinclair’s book, The Jungle.
a. They should read Chapter 3 which contains a graphic description of a slaughter
house.
b. Discuss the impact this had on readers of the day.
c. Ask the students how they felt after reading this chapter.
d. Ask the students if they can think of any other cases where journalists/authors
have impacted history. Some examples include:
i. Harriett Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
ii. Frederick Douglass’ North Star newspaper and his Autobiography.
iii. William Randolph Hearst’s reporting on the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine.
iv. Woodward and Bernstein’s reporting on the Watergate scandal.
v. Et. al.
3. Have the students look at the photographs of Jacob Riis.
a. What impact did these photographs have on society?
b. Discuss the role of other great photographs and of television on history.
i. Life Magazine’s 100 Photographs is a great source to show students the
impact of photography. The book: 100 Photographs that Changed the
World is an excellent addition for your classroom.
4. Have the students review the Progressive Party’s platform for 1912.
a. What were the major social ills of the nation in 1912?
b. What were some of the reforms made during this era?
5. Have the students create a biography card of a major figure in the Progressive Era.
a. This card should contain relevant information about the individual including their
lifespan, publications, major accomplishments.
b. Have the students share these biography cards orally in class.
6. Have the students research Charles Beard’s An Economic Interpretation of the
Constitution of the United States.
a. His thesis was that the founders were motivated as much by their own financial
interests as they were by philosophy in creating the Constitution.
i. This logic means that the document was an 18th Century creation relevant
to that era and not to the needs of modern times.
ii. Thus the document should be altered and changed to meet current
conditions.
iii. The result was the passage of more amendments to the Constitution than at
any other time since the adoption of the Bill of Rights.
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1. They incuded: XVI Amendment—Income tax; XVII—Direct
Election of Senators; XVIII—Prohibition; XVIX—Women’s Right
to Vote.
2. Discuss the impact of each of these amendments.
Below is a chart of some of the issues of the Progressive Era and
the response for each.
Social Issue/Problem
Progressive Response
Child labor
Compulsory school attendance
Need for additional government revenues
Income Tax
Lack of Democracy
Direct Election of Senators & right of women to
vote
Social evils of Alcoholism
Temperance and Prohibition
Unsubstantiated claims for medicines
Pure Food and Drug Act
Poor land management
Creation of the National Park Service
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