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Ida Tarbell's early years
Ida Tarbell was born in Western Pennsylvania in 1857. She was the daughter of an oil producer. She was angered by Rockefeller's Oil Company being swallowed up by independent oil companies. Her fathers compny went bankrupt. -
Ida Tarbell's Education
Ida entered Allegheny College as the only woman in her class of 40 people. The males in her class she referred to as "hostile or indifferent". -
McClure's Magazine
Tarbell started writing a popular series for McClure. She was assigned to investigate Standard oil. She published her findings in 19 articles on Standard Oil's business practices. -
Progressive journalism
Journalism served as an important factor in spreading the message of reform. Some popular magazines include Munsey's and Everybody's. They published stories about corruption in politics and business. Social problems and where also in the McClure's Magazine. -
Muckraker
Tarbell was hailed as "The terror of the trusts." She was dismayed to find she had been labeled a muckraker. -
Jane Addams
She urged citizens to use more social ethics and social responsibility. She remained committed to democracy and wanted to transform U.S. society and its values. She sought reform of local government, businesses, and city life to ensure full democracy. -
Social problems
Progressives wanted the people to have greater control of the government. Progressives were inspired by the spirit of social justice. Progressives strongly believed in the power of science and technology to solve social problems. With the help of universities, progressives began many social-research projects. -
Theodore's speech on muckrakers
He described a man with a muckrake who "fixes his eyes...only on that which is vile and debasing." The image of them beinf harmful and corrupt stuck. They were known as muck rakers because they "raked up" and exposed the muck, or filth, of society. -
Dangerous workplace
Workers often faces dangerous conditions and long hours.in 1910 the average American worker worked 54 hours a week. There were higher accident rates than there were in other industrial countries. -
Women and progressivism
Women enrolled in colleges in increasing numbers. But still, their career options were still limited. Reform work for college educated women were medicine, psychology, sociolgy, and other subjects. Ella Flagg Young became Chicago's superintendent of schools. -
Writers and social problems
Theodore Dreiser wrote about workers who were brutalized by greedy business owners. Edith Wharton wrote about the close-mindedness of elite society lead to good hearted heroine to social isolation and despaire. Herbert Croly wrote about how the government should use its taxation powers to promote the welfare of the citizens. -
Ida Tarbell Later in life
Ida participated in government conferences and committees. She dealt with issues such as defense, industry, and unemployment. Five years before her death she wrote an autobiography "All in the days work."