Answer:
Not really sure if this is the answer you're hoping for, but I hope it helps somewhat.
Step-by-step explanation:
1.) The first example that comes to mind when I hear that term is Upton Sinclair. Having lived something close to a hand-to-mouth existence in his childhood, he was pretty familiar with poverty and was unhappy about the disparity between the rich and poor. His most famous work was an exposé piece titled "The Jungle". It brought to light how the meatpacking industry took advantage of its workers as well as the use of several other underhanded policies. His novel was one of the major stepping stones in the establishment of the Pure food and drug act.
2.) The Chinese were a large and underappreciated part in the construction of this project. Over 2 million impoverished Chinese came to America looking for work in the 19th century. They were paid lower wages and worked in more hazardous conditions than did Americans. There was the Strike of 1867 in which Chinese workers demanded higher wages. This failed because the area where the strike was held turned out to be pretty isolated, so it had little to no effect.
3.) The 19th Amendment extended voting privileges to all adults regardless of race or sex. Women could now push for fairer salaries, job opportunities, and education. I can't find any good stories for this other than the aftermath of its ratification. Apparently the amount of women voting still remained below that of men.