Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle. Who was Upton Sinclair?

Upton Sinclair’sUpton Sinclair’sThe JungleThe Jungle

Who was Upton Sinclair?Who was Upton Sinclair?

Immigrant StoryImmigrant Story

Family in ChicagoFamily in Chicago

Tenement BuildingTenement Building

Pork Industry- ChicagoPork Industry- Chicago

Beef Industry- ChicagoBeef Industry- Chicago

Themes in the JungleThemes in the Jungle Evils of CapitalismEvils of Capitalism The Immigrant ExperienceThe Immigrant Experience The American DreamThe American Dream CorruptionCorruption Child LaborChild Labor Working ConditionsWorking Conditions Living ConditionsLiving Conditions Family TraditionsFamily Traditions Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism The JungleThe Jungle

Push FactorsPush Factors

A dramatic population increase A dramatic population increase The spread of commercial The spread of commercial

agriculture agriculture The rise of the factory systemThe rise of the factory system

After President Theodore Roosevelt read After President Theodore Roosevelt read The The JungleJungle ordered an investigation of the meat- ordered an investigation of the meat-packing industry.packing industry.

He also met Sinclair and told him that while He also met Sinclair and told him that while he disapproved of the way the book preached he disapproved of the way the book preached socialism socialism

he agreed that "radical action must be taken he agreed that "radical action must be taken to do away with the efforts of arrogant and to do away with the efforts of arrogant and selfish greed on the part of the capitalist." selfish greed on the part of the capitalist."

With the passing of the Pure Food and Drugs Act With the passing of the Pure Food and Drugs Act (1906) and the Meat Inspection Act (1906), (1906) and the Meat Inspection Act (1906), Sinclair was able to show that novelists could help Sinclair was able to show that novelists could help change the law. This in itself inspired a change the law. This in itself inspired a tremendous growth in investigative journalism. tremendous growth in investigative journalism. Theodore Roosevelt became concerned at this Theodore Roosevelt became concerned at this development and described it as muckraking. development and described it as muckraking.

Sinclair was now a well-known national figure and Sinclair was now a well-known national figure and decided to accept the offer of the Socialist Party decided to accept the offer of the Socialist Party to become its candidate for Congress in New to become its candidate for Congress in New Jersey. The venture was unsuccessful with Jersey. The venture was unsuccessful with Sinclair winning only 750 out of 24,000 votes. Sinclair winning only 750 out of 24,000 votes.

How do Americans feel How do Americans feel about Immigrants?about Immigrants?

NativismNativism

Felt immigrants were ignorantFelt immigrants were ignorant Associated with lawlessnessAssociated with lawlessness Losing Protestant Character- Losing Protestant Character-

Catholic influx of immigrantsCatholic influx of immigrants Hostility towards JewsHostility towards Jews Doubted the nation’s capactiy to Doubted the nation’s capactiy to

absorb such large numbers of absorb such large numbers of immigrantsimmigrants