Paper 2 Proposal

Topic:

Did Upton Sinclair’s novel The Jungle affect the way in which machines were utilized in the meat packing industry?

Proposed Sources:

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

The Pure Food and Drug Act proposed by Theodore Roosevelt which prompted the Food and Drug Administration

Proposed Thesis:

Based on the aftermath of the book, including the public outcry, government response, and establishment of the Food and Drug Administration, it is quite clear that The Jungle by Upton Sinclair had a profound effect on the way machines were utilized in the meat packing industry.

Outline of the Argument to be Made:

I. The Public Outcry
a. Foreign sales of meat fell drastically.
b. Theodore Roosevelt was sent multiple copies and urged to read the book.
i. He was horrified at the manner by which machines were being used in the industry.
ii. He sent two men to investigate the industry and report back on
what needed to be done.
c. Roosevelt’s two men came back with claims that the machines were “revolting”- they were both too dangerous and unsanitary to pack or
produce any meat for the general public.
II. The Passing of The Pure Food and Drug Act and establishment of the Food and Drug Administration
a. The Pure Food and Drug Act was established in June of 1906
i. Required “federal inspection of meat products and forbade the manufacture, sale, or transportation of adulterated food
products" (wikipedia.com).
ii. Due to the new requirements of quality, the meat
packing industry was forced to begin using new, safer, and higher quality machines to keep their heads above water.
iii. Had the machines not been changed, the meat packing industry would have virtually disappeared since nearly nothing in the factories were up to federal standards.
b. The Food and Drug Administration
i. The FDA was established as a federal agency that does nothing except ensure that all products used on or ingested into the public’s bodies are of high quality and safety.
ii. Also included sanitation rules which forced the meat packing industry to revamp both the way machines were operated
and the manner in which they were manufactured.