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 was important during the Progressive Era for his book "The Jungle," which exposed the appalling conditions in the meatpacking industry. Sinclair's work led to significant reforms in the food and drug industry, including the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act.
3. Jane Addams was a social reformer and feminist who founded Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago. Addams advocated for improved living conditions for the poor and immigrant communities, provided educational and cultural opportunities, and helped establish public health programs. Her work helped to address social inequality and improve the lives of marginalized groups.
4. W.E.B. Dubois was a prominent African American leader and civil rights activist during the Progressive Era. As one of the founders of the NAACP, Dubois fought for racial equality and social justice. He called for an end to segregation, equal rights for African Americans, and advocated for the education and intellectual achievements of black individuals.
5. Ida Tarbell was a muckraker journalist known for her book "The History of the Standard Oil Company," which exposed the corrupt business practices of John D. Rockefeller and his monopolistic control over the oil industry. Tarbell's work led to increased public awareness of corporate greed and sparked legislative efforts to regulate and break up monopolies.
6. Lincoln Steffens was a journalist and muckraker who exposed political corruption in his book "The Shame of the Cities." Steffens investigated and documented the corrupt practices of city governments and political machines, which led to public outrage and a demand for political reforms and more transparent governance.
7. Jacob Riis was a photojournalist and social reformer who documented the conditions in New York City's tenement buildings through his book "How the Other Half Lives." Riis' photographs and writings exposed the squalid living conditions of the poor, which led to increased awareness and efforts to improve housing and sanitation standards.
8. Ida B. Wells was an African American journalist and civil rights activist who fiercely campaigned against lynching and advocated for the rights of black Americans. Wells used her writings to expose the brutality and injustice of lynching and worked tirelessly to bring an end to this form of racial violence.
9. Booker T. Washington was an influential African American educator and civil rights leader who believed in gradual progress for black Americans through vocational education and economic independence. Washington emphasized the importance of self-reliance and practical skills to empower African Americans, and his leadership helped establish educational opportunities for black individuals in the South during the Progressive Era.