Progressive Reform: The Muckrakers

      A muckraker was a journalist that did some investigative work to “rake up the mud” to shine a light on some very ugly parts of American society. Below are some muckraking authors and their stories. Instructions: Read the following excerpts from "muckraker" authors. Answer the questions that follow the stories to analyze the impact of the journalists at the time. Each question is worth 3 points. Your response to each question should be thorough and rely on evidence from the article and your knowledge of the period. Aim for 2-3 sentences per question. Document 1: “Shame of the Cities” by Lincoln Steffens (1904) (15 points) Now, the typical American citizen is the businessman. The typical businessman is a bad citizen; he is busy. If he is a “big business man” and very busy, he does not neglect, he is buy with politics, oh, very busy and very businesslike. I found him buying boodlers in St. Louis, defending grafters in Minneapolis, originating corruption in Pittsburgh, sharing with bosses in Philadelphia, deploring reform in Chicago, and beating good government with corruption funds in New York. He is a self-righteous fraud, this big business man. He is the chief source of corruption, and it was a boon if he would neglect politics. But he is not the businessman that neglects politics: that worthy is the good citizen, the typical businessman. He too is busy, he is the one that has no use and therefore no time for politics. When his neglect has permitted bad government to go so far that he can be stirred to action, he is unhappy, and he looks around for a cure that shall be quick so that he may hurry back to the shop. Question 1a. What is Steffens’ opinion regarding businessmen? Question 1b.What is Steffens’ opinion regarding politics in America? Question 1c.What influence did Steffens think business had on politics? Question 1d.How can Steffens’ view on business and politics be seen as linked? Question 1e.How can this magazine article effect the “common man’s feelings about business and politics?