Progressive Movement Practice Exam

Ida Tarbell was a significant figure among muckrakers during the Progressive Era, known for her investigative journalism that exposed corruption and monopolistic practices in American business. Her most famous work, "The History of the Standard Oil Company," detailed the unethical methods used by John D. Rockefeller to monopolize the oil industry. This exposé not only informed the public about corporate abuses but also galvanized support for antitrust reforms.

Muckrakers played a crucial role in the Progressive Movement by using investigative journalism to uncover societal issues, including economic and political corruption, social injustices, and unsafe working conditions. This form of journalism aimed to promote reform and accountability within both the government and large corporations.

Other individuals mentioned, while influential in their own rights, were not primarily known as muckrakers. Woodrow Wilson was a president associated with Progressive reforms but not a muckraker. Cary Nation was known for her advocacy against alcohol and was more of a temperance reformer than a journalist. Eugene V. Debs was a political activist and a prominent figure in the labor movement, focusing on socialism and workers' rights rather than muckraking.