Embedded Files
Class Date: March 18th, 9:30am
Location: Your couch! See your weekly e-mail for Zoom link!
Stop the Presses!
Stop the Presses!
As the United States grappled grew, so did ways to disseminate information. The press became more widespread as more people had access to information and could read it. As journalism developed, more reporters began to change the way articles were presented. This week we will look at the life of Ida Tarbell, a journalist famous for exposing corporate corruption. Before we look at her life, here is a brief overview of the development of journalism.
For an interesting introduction to the creation and evolution of journalism in the 1800s, check out this 25 minute video:
1735 - Peter Zenger wins in court
The publisher of the New York Weekly Journal, Peter Zenger, was arrested in 1735 for printing libelous things about the British government. Andrew Hamilton (no relation to Alexander) represented Zenger and ultimately won the case, by arguing that the articles could not be libelous if they were based on fact. The case helped lay the foundation for a free press.
1833 - The ‘Penny Press’ is created
Benjamin Day creates the New York Sun, a cheap newspaper filled with sensational stories aimed at a working-class audience. The paper was a hit and thanks to larger printing presses, newspaper circulation grew quickly.
1846 - The Associated Press (AP) is formed
Five daily newspapers joined to share the cost of transmitting news, with a focus on the news of the Mexican-American War. Receiving news over telegraph could be expensive, so papers pooled their resources.
1851 - The New York Daily Times is created
Now known as The New York Times, the paper was created by George Jones and Henry Raymond, who made a point to feature quality reporting and writing, providing a contrast to the popular, sensational journalism popular at the time.
1863 - November 19 - Gettysburg Address
President Lincoln traveled to Gettysburg to consecrate a memorial to the bloody battle. There are actually multiple versions of the address, all written in Lincoln’s hand. To see a breakdown and explanation of the differing copies, go here: http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm
The most often reproduced version is as follows:
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863
1852 - Uncle Tom’s Cabin published
Harriet Beecher Stowe published her literary masterpiece on slavery, further fanning the flames of abolitionist passions. Readers in the South denounced the book for its vivid depictions of slavery, but the novel continued to gain acclaim in the North and in Great Britain. It was adapted for the theater multiple times, beginning soon after the book was published, playing for sold-out audiences.
1886 - Samuel Gompers founds the American Federation of Labor
A variety of small craft unions united under the leadership of Samuel Gompers to form the American Federation of Labor (AFL). The AFL gave each of the more 100 unions in the organization ‘exclusive jurisdiction’ over a craft. They did not engage in national political issues, but focused on collective bargaining for wages, benefits, hours, and working conditions.
1889 - Hull House opens in Chicago
Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr opened a settlement house to provide social services to poor immigrants. The Hull House originally opened as a kindergarten, but soon included a daycare nursery and infant care center. Eventually, the House provided educational facilities for secondary and college-level classes, as well as evening classes on civil rights and civic duties.
1899 - Newsies Strike
Pulitzer and Hearst raised the wholesale price of papers from 50 cents per 100 papers to 60 cents, the young boys who worked selling papers as ‘newsies’ joined forces and planned a strike. Though the price ultimately stayed at 60 cents, the owners did agree to begin buying back unsold papers. To see a musical rendition of this event, check out the movie “Newsies” on Disney plus.
1890s - Yellow journalism becomes popular
The term comes from a popular comic called “Hogan’s Alley” which featured a character dressed in yellow named ‘the yellow kid’. The term came to mean writing sensational stories for the sake of selling papers. William Randoph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer used drama, romance, and hyperbole to sell millions of their newspapers.
That is where our timeline leaves us for this week! Check below for additional reading resources!
Recommended Reading
Recommended Reading
To read more about this period, here are some great books to get you started:
Muckrackers: How Ida Tarbell, Upton Sinclair, and Lincoln Steffens Helped Expose Scandal, Inspire Reform, and Invent Investigative Journalism by Ann Bausum
Hold the presses! Here's the sensational story of the birth of investigative journalism in America. At the turn of the 20th century, news reporters and monthly magazines collaborated to create a new kind of journalism—in-depth, serialized exposés of corporate, labor, and political corruption. Many of these stories become instant bestsellers in book format: books like The Jungle, Upton Sinclair's classic account of corruption in the meat-packing industry.
Ann Bausum's dramatic narrative follows a generation of dedicated journalists who force responsible changes in industry and politics as America thrives. Muckrakers is the inside story of public-spirited journalism right through its evolution, with profiles of latter-day practitioners like Woodward and Bernstein and today's Internet bloggers.
Ann Bausum's storytelling savvy will engage and inspire young people to cherish age-old values such as truth and public accountability. Muckrakers is the scoop on American journalism. National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
History for Kids: The Progressive Era American History for Kids: Reform and Regulation by Logan Marlowe
In the heart of the Progressive Era, America transformed from a nation grappling with internal challenges into a burgeoning world power, reshaping its identity on the global stage. This short story invites young readers to explore this pivotal time in history, where reformers championed social justice, labor rights, and women's suffrage. As they dive into the narrative, children will meet inspiring figures like Jane Addams, who founded Hull House to support immigrants, and Theodore Roosevelt, who tackled monopolies and championed conservation efforts.
Each chapter unfolds like a new adventure, drawing readers into the lives of those who fought for change. With age-appropriate language and relatable themes, the story encourages children aged 8-12 to connect with the past while expanding their vocabulary. The text is designed to help young readers become comfortable with text-based books, preparing them for more advanced reading in the future.
Lessons and key takeaways are woven seamlessly into the narrative, allowing children to grasp essential concepts about civic responsibility, empathy, and the power of collective action. Each chapter ends with thought-provoking questions and activities, encouraging readers to reflect on what they’ve learned and how they can apply these lessons in their own lives.
As America emerged as a world power, the story highlights key events such as the Spanish-American War, which marked a turning point in U.S. foreign policy. Readers will learn how this conflict not only showcased America's military strength but also sparked debates about imperialism and the nation's role in global affairs. This exploration of history is not just about dates and events; it’s about understanding the values and decisions that shaped a nation.
Through engaging storytelling, young readers will find themselves captivated by the characters and events that defined the Progressive Era. The narrative emphasizes the importance of standing up for what is right and the impact that one individual can have on society. By the end of the book, children will not only have gained historical knowledge but also the inspiration to be proactive in their own communities.
This educational journey through the Progressive Era serves as a foundation for understanding the complexities of American history and the importance of being informed citizens. With each turn of the page, young readers will discover that history is not just a series of events; it’s a tapestry of stories waiting to be told, and they are now part of that ongoing narrative.
For adults:
The History of the Standard Oil Company by Ida Tarbell
Muckrakers — a term coined in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt — referred to American journalists, novelists and critics who, in the early 20th century, attempted to expose corruption in politics and the abuses of big business. One publication spearheading these exposés was McClures Magazine, and Ida Tarbell was the writer whose dramatic revelations eventually lead to effective regulation of the Standard Oil Company. Her story, serialized by McClure's in 1902 and 1903, tells the history of John D. Rockefeller's company. The first major industrial monopoly in the U.S., Standard Oil, in 1901, was the largest corporation in the country, and at its peak, controlled as much as eighty-five percent of oil refining in America. But with all his wealth and power, Rockfeller could not protect himself from Tarbell. Her story of the company, which became a model for militant journalists in the future, managed to place the blame for increasingly commercialized American ideals and practical behavior at Rockefeller's doorstep. Combining descriptions of his business practices with his personal characteristics and even his physical appearance, Tarbell created an image of a cunning and ruthless person — a picture that not even decades of Rockefeller philanthropy were able to dispel. This edition (the "briefer version" of her book; the original was more than 800 pages.) makes a great muckraking classic much more accessible to readers. As such, it will be invaluable to students and teachers of American economic history and a fascinating read for anyone interested in the muckraking era and the days of unregulated big business.
Taking on the Trust: The Epic Battle of Ida Tarbell and John D. Rockefeller by Steve Weinberg
Long before the rise of mega-corporations like Wal-Mart and Microsoft, Standard Oil controlled the oil industry with a monopolistic force unprecedented in American business history. Undaunted by the ruthless power of its owner, John D. Rockefeller, a fearless and ambitious reporter named Ida Minerva Tarbell confronted the company known simply as "The Trust".
Through her peerless fact gathering and devastating prose, Tarbell pioneered the new practice of investigative journalism. Her shocking discoveries about Standard Oil and Rockefeller led to a dramatic confrontation that culminated in the landmark 1911 Supreme Court antitrust decision, forever altering the landscape of modern American industry. Based on extensive research, Taking on the Trust is a vivid and dramatic history of the Progressive Era, with powerful resonance for the early 21st century.
Works Cited
Works Cited
Google Sites
Report abuse