"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. As you review the graphic on the following slide, think about why Sinclair wrote The Jungle. What was his purpose for writing this exposé? Text adapted from OpenStax U.S. History."

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. The video linked above will help you.

Answer 1

The Pure Food and Drug Act was enacted to address several alarming practices in the food and drug industries that jeopardized public health. One significant issue it sought to correct was the widespread sale of contaminated and unwholesome food products. Prior to the act, unscrupulous manufacturers often used spoiled ingredients, failed to maintain sanitary conditions, and misled consumers about their products, leading to health hazards and unsafe consumption. Additionally, the act aimed to regulate the labeling of food and drugs, ensuring that consumers had accurate information about what they were purchasing, which was crucial for their safety.

Muckrakers played a vital role in bringing these issues to the forefront of public consciousness. Investigative journalists like Upton Sinclair, whose work in The Jungle exposed the appalling conditions of the meatpacking industry, highlighted the need for regulation and reform. Their efforts to document and publicize the harsh realities faced by consumers not only informed the American public but also galvanized support for legislative changes, leading to the passage of protective laws such as the Pure Food and Drug Act.

The lasting effect of the Pure Food and Drug Act has been significant, as it laid the groundwork for the modern regulatory framework that governs food and drug safety in the United States. This law helped establish the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which continues to oversee the safety and efficacy of food and medicinal products. The act also instilled a greater sense of accountability among manufacturers and fostered a culture of transparency and consumer protection, ultimately contributing to improved public health outcomes and greater trust in the food system.