The Muckrakers and Intellectuals Upton Sinclair was an American writer. He is best known for his novel The Jungle. The Gilded Age was marked by a rise in fortunes for factory owners. It also led to record poverty for most American workers. The wealthy and powerful preyed on the poor and weak. Poor workers worked long hours in dangerous conditions. Many of the issues created in the Gilded Age were exposed in articles and books written by muckrakers. Muckraker was a term for investigative journalists of the time. They wrote about issues like unsanitary and unsafe conditions in factories and mills. These journalists brought the plight of workers, violence against African Americans, and corruption in politics to the attention of the American public. The Progressive Era produced a number of prominent muckrakers. Ida Tarbell was an investigative journalist known for her work exposing the unfair business practices of the Standard Oil Company. Jacob Riis revealed the harsh reality of life in New York’s slums through photographs in his book How the Other Half Lives. Lincoln Steffens was an investigative journalist known for his work uncovering political corruption. Steffens wrote a series of articles called The Shame of the Cities. The articles uncovered unethical political practices in major American cities. Steffens wrote about corrupt dealings between big business owners and political leaders. Business owners bribed elected officials to attain lucrative deals for their companies at the expense of the public good. Upton Sinclair was an American writer known for his novel The Jungle. His book highlighted unsanitary and unsafe conditions in the meatpacking industry. Muckrakers brought these and many other issues into the public eye, and Americans began to demand change. Writers and leaders who influenced their cultures were also known as intellectuals. They studied and reflected on the problems of the time and provided ideas and actions for improving them. People such as Jacob Riis, Upton Sinclair, and W. E. B. Du Bois fit into this category.

Question

The Pure Food and Drug Act was a law passed to protect American consumers. Describe and explain at least two practices it sought to correct, the role of muckrakers, and the lasting effect of that law. (Unit 8 lesson 1, p. 4) Remember that each response must be a minimum of 3 sentences. Make sure to use proper grammar and punctuation.

Answer 1

The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 aimed to address several harmful practices in the food and pharmaceutical industries. One significant issue it sought to correct was the rampant use of harmful preservatives and adulterants in food products, which often led to health hazards for consumers. Another critical practice was the misleading labeling of medications, where products were marketed with false claims about their ingredients and effectiveness, endangering public health.

Muckrakers played a pivotal role in bringing attention to the unsafe conditions that necessitated the enactment of the Pure Food and Drug Act. Through their investigative journalism, individuals like Upton Sinclair exposed the shocking realities of the meatpacking industry in "The Jungle," highlighting unsanitary practices and the suffering of workers. Their efforts galvanized public outrage and, in turn, spurred legislative action to protect consumers from such malpractices.

The lasting effect of the Pure Food and Drug Act was profound, as it established a foundation for consumer protection laws in the United States. This legislation led to the creation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which continues to oversee the safety and efficacy of food and pharmaceuticals. By ensuring stricter regulations and accountability in these industries, the Act has helped to safeguard public health and build consumer trust in the marketplace.