Muckrakers and NAACP - Progressive Reform

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Questions and Answers

What is a muckraker?

A journalist who uncovers abuse and corruption of business and politics.

What role did muckrakers play during the Progressive Era?

Muckrakers created public demand to reform governments, promote social welfare, and create economic reform.

What did Upton Sinclair's book The Jungle expose?

Hazardous working conditions in the meatpacking industry and the difficult lives of immigrants.

What was the main purpose of Ida Tarbell's The History of the Standard Oil Company?

To expose unfair business practices used by large companies to force smaller companies out of business. Signup and view all the answers

What tactics did political machines use according to Thomas Nast?

Illegal tactics to control local governments. Signup and view all the answers

What problems did Jacob Riis address in How the Other Half Lives?

Poor living conditions in overcrowded tenements and slums. Signup and view all the answers

What were some problems African Americans faced during the Progressive Era?

Discrimination in the workplace, lower wages, segregation, voting restrictions, and poorer education. Signup and view all the answers

Why didn't politicians, especially the president, try to reform civil rights?

They were afraid of losing votes and the support of Southern political leaders. Signup and view all the answers

What were the key issues that prevented equality at the time?

Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson, Jim Crow laws, and restrictions on voting rights. Signup and view all the answers

What significance did the case Plessy v. Ferguson have?

It allowed segregation based on race. Signup and view all the answers

What approach did Booker T. Washington advocate for achieving equality?

Achieve equality through technical education and vocational training. Signup and view all the answers

What did W.E.B. Du Bois believe regarding equality?

He believed in immediate equality based on the Constitution. Signup and view all the answers

What was the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) founded for?

To assist minority groups within the U.S. to achieve equality. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Muckrakers

Muckrakers were journalists who uncovered abuses and corruption in business and politics, prompting public demand for reforms.
Their efforts promoted social welfare and economic reform during the Progressive Era.

Upton Sinclair and "The Jungle"

Upton Sinclair aimed to expose poor working conditions in the meatpacking industry through his novel "The Jungle".
The public response focused more on unsanitary meat processing conditions than on workers' hardships.

Ida Tarbell and Standard Oil

Ida Tarbell highlighted unfair practices of large companies, particularly Rockefeller's Standard Oil, which utilized monopolies to eliminate competition.
The government responded by enforcing the Sherman Anti-trust and Clayton Anti-trust Acts, leading to the breakup of Standard Oil.
President Roosevelt earned the nickname "trustbuster" for these actions.

Thomas Nast and Political Corruption

Thomas Nast used political cartoons to reveal corruption from political machines and bosses in local governments.
His work contributed to reforms such as primary elections, recall votes, initiatives, and referendums.

Jacob Riis and Urban Living Conditions

Jacob Riis, in "How the Other Half Lives," documented the deplorable living conditions in overcrowded tenements, emphasizing social welfare issues.
His exposure of these conditions led to reforms aimed at protecting tenants.

African American Challenges During the Progressive Era

African Americans faced widespread discrimination, including lower wages, public segregation, voting restrictions, and limited educational opportunities.

Political Resistance to Civil Rights Reform

Politicians, including presidents, avoided civil rights reforms due to fears of losing votes, particularly from Southern political leaders who opposed such measures.

Key Issues Preventing Equality

The Supreme Court case "Plessy v. Ferguson" upheld "separate but equal" as constitutional, perpetuating segregation.
Jim Crow laws further enforced segregation and restricted voting rights through literacy tests and poll taxes.

Plessy v. Ferguson Overview

In 1896, Homer Plessy, classified as "7/8 white," challenged segregation laws but the ruling allowed segregation based on race, reinforcing discriminatory policies.

Booker T. Washington's Approach

Washington advocated for achieving equality through technical education, emphasizing practical skills training at institutions like Tuskegee Institute.
He believed in a gradual approach to equality and refrained from publicly criticizing the president regarding civil rights.

W.E.B. Du Bois and Immediate Equality

W.E.B. Du Bois called for immediate equality and civil rights, opposing Washington's gradual approach.
He co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and strongly supported education as a means for African Americans to achieve equality.

The NAACP

Founded in 1909, the NAACP aimed to assist minority groups in achieving equality and addressing civil rights issues in the United States.

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Description

This quiz explores the role of muckrakers and the NAACP during the Progressive Era, highlighting their influence on social and economic reforms. Key historical figures and their contributions are also discussed. Test your knowledge on this vital period of American history.