Of all the muckrakers, Upton Sinclair stands out as the greatest muckraker of the Progressive Era due to his unique perspective, passion for honest journalism, and ability to influence more social change than perhaps any authors before him. His willingness to put even his reputation on the line for the sake of exposing the truth to the public and his overcoming his upbringing makes him an admirable figure in American literature. His tireless activism and attempts to right the wrongs of society had far-reaching impacts that still affect us today. Upton Sinclair was born in Baltimore, Maryland on September 20, 1878 to his father of the same name and his mother, Priscilla. From his very earliest days, his life was fraught with dichotomies that
