What was the name given to journalists who focused on the poverty and corruption in the cities? A. Carpetbaggers B. Crusaders C. Muckrakers D. Reformers

C. Muckrakers

Extra: The term "muckraker" was used particularly during the Progressive Era in the United States (roughly from the 1890s to the 1920s) to describe reform-minded journalists who wrote largely for popular magazines. They exposed established institutions and leaders as corrupt and attempted to show the public how the upper classes, corporations, and political systems took advantage of the poor and marginalized. These journalists were influential in sparking widespread reform and were called "muckrakers" because they "raked up" and exposed the "muck" or corruption of society. The term itself was popularized by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, based on a character in John Bunyan's book "The Pilgrim's Progress" who could only look downward and rake the filth at his feet, which represented an obsession with the sordid aspects of society.

"Muckraking" had a significant impact on American society by bringing issues such as child labor, poverty, women’s suffrage, and industrialization's negative effects to the public's attention. This form of journalism led to increased support for progressivism, which aimed to address the problems caused by industrialization and urbanization. Notable muckrakers include Upton Sinclair, whose novel "The Jungle" exposed the unsanitary conditions of meatpacking factories, and Ida Tarbell, who documented the monopolistic practices of the Standard Oil Company. Their work underscored the power of the written word to initiate social change.