Progressive Movement Practice Exam

Which law was notably enacted as a consequence of muckraking literature?

1. Interstate Commerce Act

2. Sherman Antitrust Act

3. Meat Inspection Act

4. Federal Reserve Act

The correct answer is: Meat Inspection Act

The Meat Inspection Act is recognized as a direct result of muckraking literature, particularly due to Upton Sinclair’s influential novel "The Jungle." Published in 1906, the book exposed the appalling conditions in the meatpacking industry, highlighting unsanitary practices and the lack of regulation that endangered public health. The vivid descriptions of contaminated meat and the exploitation of workers generated public outrage and drew the attention of lawmakers. As a direct response to the outcry from Sinclair's revelations and other similar works, the federal government recognized the need for established regulations to protect consumers. This led to the passage of the Meat Inspection Act in 1906, which mandated sanitary standards for meat processing plants and authorized federal inspections of meat products. The law underscored the effective role that muckraking journalism played in promoting reform and instigating governmental action in response to corporate malpractice, thus solidifying the connection between muckraking efforts and subsequent legislative changes.