Final answer:
Following the publication of Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle,' the government passed the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. Similarly, Ralph Nader's 'Unsafe at Any Speed' contributed to the creation of vehicle safety laws and the establishment of the NHTSA. These actions highlight the impactful role of muckraking journalism in promoting public health and safety reforms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Government Actions Following Muckraking Works
The government actions taken after the publication of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle in 1906 and Ralph Nader's Unsafe at Any Speed in 1965 are prime examples of the desire to protect public health and safety, which were regulation and reform. Sinclair's exposure of the appalling conditions in the meatpacking industry led to public outrage, urging President Theodore Roosevelt to appoint a commission that corroborated Sinclair's descriptions. The administration swiftly acted, resulting in the enactment of the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906, which set standards for food and drug safety in the United States.
Similarly, Ralph Nader's book played a critical role in raising awareness about vehicle safety and led to the establishment of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the passage of vehicle safety laws. These legislative actions are indicative of an era during which muckraking journalists prompted significant changes in corporate accountability and consumer protection through the influential power of their investigative writing.