Final answer:
Following its publication, "The Shame of the Cities" by Lincoln Steffens significantly raised awareness of urban corruption and indirectly contributed to the progressive reform movement. It highlighted systemic issues and played a role in planting seeds for future governmental changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The impact of "The Shame of the Cities" after being published by Lincoln Steffens was significant in terms of raising awareness of urban corruption. Though it didn't lead directly to immediate government reforms, it certainly played a crucial role in bringing to light the systemic issues of greed and corruption that plagued city governments during the Gilded Age, thus planting the seeds for future changes. The investigative journalism embodied by Steffens's work exposed the dark underbelly of American politics and helped to fuel the progressive reform movements that would eventually address such issues.