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How Did The Progressive Era Affect American Society

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The time preceding, and during, the Progressive Era led to many economic and social changes that greatly affected American society. The Progressives emerged when reacting to problems that were caused by the massive growth of immigrants into large cities. Progressives, at first, concentrated on improving the lives of people and immigrants living in the poorest areas, and then on getting rid of corruption in government. (Constitutional Rights Foundation) Journalists of this time took advantage of the opportunity to show the American people how corrupt many of the health systems were. In 1902, magazine publishers discovered that their sales increased dramatically when they highlighted popular stories of political corruption, corporate misconduct, or other offenses. (Gilder Lehrman Institute) The novelist Upton Sinclair also played a large role during this new era in the fight …show more content…
Shortly thereafter, an investigation of Chicago’s slaughterhouses was demanded by President Roosevelt and the reports confirmed almost all of Sinclair’s observations. Roosevelt was shocked and disgusted with the treatment of the animals and more so of the employees, and in a letter to congress he stated, “A law is needed which will enable the inspectors of the [Federal] Government to inspect and supervise from the hoof to the can the preparation of the meat food product” (Constitutional Rights Foundation). All the uproar caused by Sinclair’s novel and the Presidents involvement led to the establishment of the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 and the Meat Inspection Act. Both laws complimented each other by strengthening and creating new and existing regulations for food additives and how they are labeled. This law later resulted in the formation of the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which is still active today (Constitutional Rights

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