Orchid Mae Letter 16 - The Man with the Muck Rake

The Progressive Era in the United States was a period of time marked by an increase in both political and social reforms in the late 1800s and early 1900s. During this time, the press played a crucial role in exposing societal wrongs, influencing public opinion, and driving legislative reforms. One of the most significant contributions came from “muckrakers”—investigative journalists who sought to uncover corruption, corporate abuses, and social injustices. Their work not only informed the public, increasing awareness, but also pressured government officials to implement progressive reforms. 

The term "muckraker" was popularized by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 speech titled “The Man With the Muck-Rake,” derived from John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, in which a character relentlessly rakes through filth. Roosevelt was trying to caution the journalists to be more objective and reasonable in their reporting. Although he initially used the term with some criticism, it soon became a widely-used moniker for journalists committed to uncovering corruption and advocating for change. Muckrakers, though most journalists despised the term, operated through newspapers, magazines and books, utilizing the expanding print media to reach a broad audience. Their reporting and publishing covered a wide range of issues, including political corruption, labor exploitation, unsanitary conditions in industries, and monopolistic business practices. 

Ida Tarbell’s The History of the Standard Oil Company (1904) was one of the most impactful pieces of muckraking journalism. Published in McClure’s Magazine, her detailed exposé revealed the unethical business practices of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company, including unfair pricing strategies, secret deals, and ruthless elimination of competition. Her work fueled public outrage and contributed to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 1911 to break up Standard Oil under antitrust laws. In addition, her method of research ushered in a new form of journalism, based on investigative research: investigative journalism. 

Lincoln Steffens, another prominent muckraker, focused on political corruption. His book The Shame of the Cities (1904) was a collection of articles previously published in McClure’s Magazine that exposed graft and political manipulation in various American cities. Steffens highlighted the connections between corrupt politicians and business interests, illustrating how bribery and vote-rigging undermined democracy. Though Steffens’ initial motive was not as an exposé, but to open the eyes of the populace to the results of their political apathy and motivate more civic involvement, the effect was powerful. His work played a role in reform movements that sought to clean up municipal governments and implement political changes such as direct primaries and secret ballots. 

Jacob Riis, a journalist and photographer, brought attention to urban poverty through his pioneering use of photojournalism. His book How the Other Half Lives (1890) documented the squalid living conditions in New York City’s tenements, using both vivid descriptions and powerful photographs. Riis’s work moved middle-class Americans and policymakers to push for housing reforms, leading to improved building codes and the establishment of housing regulations.

Beyond individual muckrakers, the broader press played a key role in shaping the Progressive Era’s agenda. The rise of mass-circulation newspapers, facilitated by advancements in printing technology, allowed reformist ideas to reach a national audience. Newspapers engaged in advocacy journalism, openly supporting Progressive causes such as women’s suffrage, labor rights, and trust-busting.

The press also influenced electoral politics, helping Progressive politicians like Theodore Roosevelt gain support. Roosevelt himself, despite his occasional criticisms of muckrakers, leveraged the media to promote his policies, such as breaking up monopolies and regulating industries. The relationship between the press and reform-minded politicians demonstrated the power of journalism in shaping political discourse and policy decisions.

However, muckraking journalism was not without its critics. Some conservatives and business leaders accused muckrakers of sensationalism and exaggeration, arguing that they stirred unnecessary public unrest. Others believed that these journalists focused too much on problems without offering solutions. Nevertheless, the impact of the muckrakers was undeniable, as their work led to concrete reforms in multiple areas of American society.

The prevalence of muckraking journalism began to decline as many of the key issues that were highlighted were addressed through legislative reforms. Corporations and politicians were also able to use their power to create advertiser boycotts for the print media, thereby forcing many to go bankrupt and silencing journalists. Additionally, the outbreak of World War I shifted public attention away from domestic concerns. Nonetheless, the legacy of muckrakers endured, influencing later investigative journalism and setting a precedent for holding the powerful accountable.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muckraker#

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Era#

https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/Learn-About-TR/TR-Encyclopedia/Culture%20and%20Society/Muckraker

https://www.britannica.com/topic/muckraker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Steffens

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ida_Tarbell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Riis

https://www.studentsofhistory.com/muckrakers

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/rise-to-world-power/age-of-empire/a/muckrakers

https://www.thoughtco.com/who-were-the-muckrakers-104842

https://pressbooks-dev.oer.hawaii.edu/ushistory/chapter/the-origins-of-the-progressive-spirit-in-america/