Question

Were the social concerns of the Progressive Era correctly depicted in The Jungle?”

Answer 1

The Jungle exposed the terrible situations of the meatpacking industry, brought it to the limelight what was really happening when the government didn't step into businesses. It shadowed a hard working immigrant family and the struggles they faced when coming to America. One of the biggest things it brought to light was the terrible situations seen at a meat packing facility. It also brought up numerous other issues, such as the circumstances employees had to work in, prostitution, and immigration. Although this was a fictional story it was based in reality for a working family. It became widely widespread and people called for change. Sinclair wrote it in hopes that more people would become social democrats. He said 'I aimed at the public's heart and by accident, I hit it in the stomach'. He may not have had as big of an impression as he had expected, but he did get the American people up in arms that Congress passed a bill within weeks to try and talk some of the issues that people saw in The Jungle. This is one of many things that Progressives sought to achieve.