Final answer:
Muckrakers were investigative journalists who exposed societal issues during the Progressive Era. Their work, with both positive effects like prompting reforms and potential negative effects such as sensationalism, significantly impacted American society and policy-making.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics and Impact of Muckrakers in American Society
The writing of muckrakers can be described as investigative journalism focused on exposing social injustice, political corruption, and corporate malfeasance during the Progressive Era of American history. Muckrakers played a pivotal role in shedding light on the dark corners of society, government, and business, which in turn led to significant reforms. Their work was characterized by in-depth research and an insistent call for change, often through serialized articles in magazines or books.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Muckraking
- Advantages include raising public awareness of issues, prompting legislative action, and inspiring social reforms.
- Disadvantages might involve sensationalism, biased reporting, or the marginalization of opposing views and perspectives.
Impact of Muckraking
Muckraking articles and books had a profound impact on American society by highlighting egregious problems such as child labor, business monopolies, and poor working conditions. This exposure often led to an outraged public demanding change and reforms. The muckrakers' incessant drive for exposing wrongdoing not only provided the momentum needed for the Progressive Era reforms but also influenced public opinion and policy-making during the early 20th century.