Muckrakers
Popular magazine writers that exposed the corruption and scandal that the public loved to hate in the 1900's.
"The Shame of the Cities"
The Shame of the Cities was a work published in 1904 by Lincoln Steffens that sought to expose public corruption in many major cities throughout the United States. The work consists of articles written for the magazine McClure's in one collection. His goal was to provoke public outcry and thus promote reform. It showed the suffering and hardships of those who immigrated to America.
"The Treason of the Senate"
The Treason of the Senate was a series of articles in Cosomoplitan magazine by David Graham Phillips in 1906. Phillips exposed the corruption of the United States Senate, particularly the corporate magnate-turned-Senator Nelson Aldrich from Rhode Island. During the composition of the articles Phillips received help from newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst, who then desired to publish sensationalist stories to attract more readership of his publications.
"The Bitter Cry of Children"
The Bitter Cry of Children is a book by socialist writer John Spargo. Published in 1906, it is an expose of the horrific working conditions of child laborers.Essential Question
What does it mean to have power? For these Muckrackers power was in the press. As much info and "dirt" they could bring up on any particular person allowed them to influence societies views. Much of their power to do so led to reforms in industry and helped the working class of america.Connection
Previous Area of Study
The during pre-revolution times, Radical Whigs were a group of British political commentators who feared the British monarchy and Parliment was posing a threat on their liberty. They warned the people of the colonies of corruption. Through the use of press they were able to gain power against the British much like the working class of America was able to gain power to obtain regulations and standards to make working conditions better.Contemporary Topic
Julian Assange has brought muckraking into the 21st century. His creation of the website Wikileaks allows people to share classified documents under his editorship. Assange himself has uncovered secrets of the Church of Scientology and the wars in Iraq and Afgahnistan. With his skills in muckraking he has been able to expose the truth on important topics that have changed the way people think.
Hey Lukas Brockway great blog, it was interesting to see how the muckrakers influenced society by their writing. If men and women never put these stories of education, working conditions ect. I would say that this would have went on longer. Austin Borchardt
ReplyDeleteI think that eventually conditions would have become better, but definately not for awhile. People were so content with what they were doing, such as in meat packing districts, they put rat waste, and even rats themselves in with the meat, or how they were treating women and children in factories, that it was okay to do it in their eyes. They needed someone like the muckrakers to expose these stories and put them to rest. Nice job!
ReplyDeleteBrockway! Pretty neat article on muckraking! I'm glad you talked about muckrakers who were outside the Spanish-American War! And to answer your question, I don't believe industries would be different, it would of taken time to have better conditions though!
ReplyDeleteBrocks! Great blog, it was a great review on muckrakers and how they were in society.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! I liked how you focused on how they effected society and to connections you made.
ReplyDeleteInteresting way to do this blog! i liked how you gave examples of different types of muckraking instead of just explaining. Your connection to previous units is also very well done.
ReplyDeleteSweet Blog, Bro!
ReplyDeleteLoved how you highlighted the muckrakers and your essential questions are SWEET! Your contemporary topic is right on- ROCKway!
Mr. Curtis