Muckraker: Upton Sinclair
Works Published:
- "The Jungle" (1906)
Subject(s):
- The unsanitary and inhumane conditions in the meatpacking industry in Chicago.
What They Exposed:
- Sinclair's novel described the appalling working conditions faced by laborers and the unsanitary practices of food production, including contaminated meat processing and exploitation of immigrant workers.
Result:
- The book had a profound impact on public opinion regarding food safety and labor rights, leading to widespread outrage among readers.
Aftermath, Outcome, Effect:
- The public outcry from "The Jungle" contributed to the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act in 1906, which aimed to ensure sanitary conditions in the food industry and improve regulation of food safety. Sinclair's work is often credited with stimulating the Progressive Era reforms in the United States. The book also highlighted the broader issues of labor exploitation and led to increased interest in workers' rights and protections.