For each person listed, describe why each is important to the Progressive Era: 2-3 sentences for each person would be reasonable. Remember to use your own words!! Don’t copy/paste.
Person Importance:
2. Upton
Sinclair
3. Jane
Addams
4. W.E.B.
Dubois
5. Ida Tarbell
6. Lincoln
Steffens
7. Jacob Riis
8. Ida B. Wells
9. Booker T.
Washington
2. Upton Sinclair: Upton Sinclair was an important figure in the Progressive Era because of his novel, "The Jungle," which exposed the unsanitary and deplorable conditions of the meatpacking industry. This led to public outrage and eventually resulted in the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act, which aimed to protect consumers and improve working conditions.
3. Jane Addams: Jane Addams was a prominent social reformer and a co-founder of Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago. She played a significant role in addressing social inequality and advocating for improved living conditions for immigrants and the urban poor. She was also a leader in the women's suffrage movement and a strong advocate for peace.
4. W.E.B. Dubois: W.E.B. Dubois was a prominent African American intellectual and civil rights activist during the Progressive Era. He co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and advocated for equal rights and opportunities for African Americans. His sociological study, "The Philadelphia Negro," provided valuable insight into the social and economic conditions experienced by African Americans in urban areas.
5. Ida Tarbell: Ida Tarbell was a muckraking journalist who played a crucial role in exposing the unfair business practices of the Standard Oil Company. Her investigative reports led to public awareness of the company's monopolistic practices, which eventually led to the breakup of Standard Oil through the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1911. Tarbell's work contributed to the regulation of large corporations and the promotion of fair competition.
6. Lincoln Steffens: Lincoln Steffens was a prominent muckraker and investigative journalist who focused on political corruption in American cities. His book, "The Shame of the Cities," shed light on the corrupt practices of politicians and their ties to unethical businesses. Steffens' work contributed to increased awareness about the need for political reform and the push for more honest and transparent government.
7. Jacob Riis: Jacob Riis was a photojournalist and social reformer who documented the living conditions of impoverished immigrants in New York City during the Progressive Era. His book, "How the Other Half Lives," exposed the overcrowded tenements and widespread poverty in the city, leading to public awareness and efforts to improve housing and living conditions for the urban poor.
8. Ida B. Wells: Ida B. Wells was an African American journalist and civil rights activist who fought against racial injustice and advocated for the end of lynching in the United States. Through her writing and activism, Wells shed light on the brutality and racial violence faced by African Americans. Her work paved the way for future civil rights movements and brought attention to the urgent need for racial equality.
9. Booker T. Washington: Booker T. Washington was an influential African American educator and civil rights leader during the Progressive Era. He believed in practical education and economic self-reliance for African Americans. While controversial, Washington's efforts in establishing institutions like the Tuskegee Institute provided black individuals with education and skills necessary for economic independence and social progress. His ideas and leadership helped shape the African American community's response to racial discrimination and segregation.