Final answer:
Muckraking journalists like Jacob Riis and Upton Sinclair exposed the poor conditions in tenements and the meatpacking industry, leading to public outcry and Progressive Era reforms such as the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act. Their work highlighted socioeconomic issues and regulatory negligence, prompting legislative changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jacob Riis and Upton Sinclair were prominent figures in the Progressive Era, identified as muckraking journalists for their investigative work exposing dire conditions in tenements and the meatpacking industry. The term 'muckraker' was derived from the character in Pilgrim's Progress, and President Theodore Roosevelt used it to describe journalists who uncovered societal problems.
The substantial muck in tenements existed largely due to rapid industrialization, urbanization, and immigration, which led to overcrowding and substandard living conditions. Immigrant families often struggled in poverty within these tenements. Riis, with his book How the Other Half Lives, showcased this plight through dramatic storytelling and early photojournalism, advocating for tenement reforms.
The meatpacking industry, described starkly in Sinclair's The Jungle, faced scrutiny due to unsanitary conditions and corrupt practices. Sinclair's work aimed to criticize not only the industry's exploitation of workers but also the consumption of adulterated beef by the public. His novel was influential in the enactment of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act, signalling the beginning of federal regulatory policies, including the establishment of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
These conditions had been ignored for so long because of a blend of societal indifference, lack of effective regulations, and the economic interests of powerful industrialists and landlords. The exposure from muckrakers spurred public awareness and subsequent demands for change, which culminated in the Progressive Era reforms.