Theodore Roosevelt & the Progressive Movement
Part I: Introducing Theodore Roosevelt
 Part II: The Progressive Movement: Consumer Protection
Part III: Other Progressive Issues: Race Relations and
Conservation
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Objective
Students will understand the impact of the media on public opinion and ultimately on legislation.
Before Viewing C-SPAN Explain to students that among the changes that took place during the Progressive Era were reforms to protect the nation's food and drug supplies. Theodore Roosevelt was president in 1906 when the Pure Food and Drug and Meat Inspection Acts were passed. He, as much of the rest of the county, was moved to act after the publication of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle.
Instruct students to take notes on the clips that will allow them to trace this issue and Theodore Roosevelt's involvement.
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| View C-SPAN Clips |
a. Background
 American Writers: Upton Sinclair, Clip #15 - Comparison of past and present meatpacking labor conditions time, no unions, immigrant workers still in danger today
American Writers: Upton Sinclair, Clip #24 - Sinclair's main purpose with The Jungle was to expose wage slavery, America thought the main purpose was unclean meat; Wholesale Meat Act
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b. Reaction/Outcome
American Writers: Upton Sinclair, Clip #23 - Immediate reaction and change to meat packing process once The Jungle was published, small companies couldn't survive, large companies flourished
American Writers: Upton Sinclair, Clip #36 - The impact of immigrants in that period of time; Chicago and the great migration
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c. Legacy
American Writers: Upton Sinclair, Clip #44 - The story and legend of Theodore Roosevelt's reaction after he read The Jungle
American Writers: Upton Sinclair, Clip #60 - Will there ever be another book that has the same kind of social impact as The Jungle?
 Access complete video from C-SPAN's American Writers Writings of Upton Sinclair
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After Viewing C-SPAN Discuss with students: What impact did The Jungle have on Theodore Roosevelt and what action did he take to address the issue? How did the President "use" The Jungle to accomplish a Progressive objective? |
