Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: America's History in the Making: The Progressives
Comprehensive teaching unit that explores the Progressive period in America and the reform movements that accompanied it. Contains video and text materials, web interactives, student oriented activities, and a timeline of key events from...
Texas A&M University
Texas A&m University: Meat Inspection
Comprehensive breakdown of the laws and processes of meat inspection. Very informative.
Other
Sachem Central School District: Your History Site: The Muckrakers [Pdf]
Excerpts from the writings of Upton Sinclair, Ida Tarbell, and Jacob Riis on early industrial America. Topics include the horrors that went into the making of sausages, the problem of transportation and the Standard Oil Company, and life...
Blackdog Media
Classic Reader: The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
Classic Reader provides numerous classic works from famous authors. First published as a serial in the Appeal to Reason 1905, one work is The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair. It exposed harsh working conditions in the meat packing industry.
The Newberry Library
Newberry Library: Workers and Reformers in Turn of the Century Chicago
Learning with primary resources examines the plight of workers during the late 18th and early 19th centuries and compares the perspective of sociologists to that of writers like Upton Sinclair.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Ap Us History Unit: Period 7: 1890 1945: Muckrakers
The study resource from Khan Academy provides an overview of Period 7: 1890-1945 in American History. The Progressive Era's muckrakers are discussed in this lesson. This resource is designed as a review for the AP US History Test.
Cengage Learning
Houghton Mifflin Company: The Jungle
This site, which is provided for by the Houghton Mifflin Company, presents various ways to examine one of the most powerful books of the century.
Country Studies US
Country Studies: The Reform Impulse
This site discusses the birth of the Progressive movement came about when the ascension of Theodore Roosevelt to the presidency after the assassination of William McKinley and the new face of American politics that sought to reform...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Reform Impulse
Article introduces era of political and social reform known as Progressivism, in late 19th through early 20th Centuries.
US National Archives
Nara: American Originals: Letter From Upton Sinlcair to President Roosevelt
Click here to see an original page of a letter from Upton Sinclair to President Roosevelt regarding the conditions of meat-packing plants.
Penguin Publishing
Penguin Random House: "The Jungle" Teacher Guide
Get chapter-by-chapter comprehension questions, discussion questions and ideas for extending the study of the novel beyond the text. Also includes some background information about the author and novel.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Chicago: City of the Century: Philip Armour
From a PBS American Experience series about Chicago, this biography of Philip Armour, who made the meat-packing business more efficient. Find out about his methods, but also about the horrible conditions of the meat-packers who worked in...
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: The Jungle
An encyclopedia article from Wikipedia on Upton Sinclair's landmark novel, "The Jungle," describing its importance and giving an outline of the plot.
PBS
Pbs: The American Novel: Literary Timeline: Authors: Upton Sinclair
Brief biography of American writer and reformer Upton Sinclair.
Authors Calendar
Author's Calendar: Upton Beall Sinclair
Biography, selected publications, and a list of further reading.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Migrant Struggle: Upton Sinclair
Muckraker Upton Sinclair is featured in this brief biography drawing particular attention to his novel, "The Jungle," written to alert people to the inhumane treatment of immigrant workers. See "Upton Sinclair Activities" for related...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Upton Sinclair's the Jungle: Muckraking the Meat Packing Industry
The Jungle dives into the terrible working conditions in the meat-packing industry which led to investigations and new food safety laws.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Upton Sinclair: A Progressive Era Muckraker
Students will describe how Upton Sinclair's The Jungle reflected issues of the Progressive Era.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Yearning to Breathe Free: Muckrakers and Activism [Pdf]
A lesson plan from the producers of the 16-episode PBS series "Freedom: A History of US" that leads learners through an examination of the role of muckrakers in the development of investigative journalism. Young scholars work to identify...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Excerpt From the Jungle
A learning module that begins with "Excerpt from The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Muckrakers
Sometimes a pen can be wielded more lethally than a sword. Read about the brave muckrakers who exposed corruption and injustice in government and business. These journalists attacked different areas, but the result was an introduction to...
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Upton Sinclair: End Poverty in California: The Epic Movement
Upton Sinclair outlines how he would end poverty in his failed campaign for the governorship of California in a 1934 article for Literary Digest.
US National Archives
Nara: American Originals: Meat Packing House Inspections
Check out this National Archives and Records Administration site for a short explanation of the term "muckraker," and for a quote by Sinclair, whose writings influenced the passage of the Meat Inspection Act in 1907.
Social Security Administration
Social Security Online: Upton Sinclair
The Social Security Administration profiles the political career of author Upton Sinclair and his unsuccessful run as a progressive candidate for governor of California in 1934. He proposed a plan for California similar to what became...