Upton Sinclair's Influence On The Jungle

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Urban Renewal Inspired by Upton Sinclair

As you look around at the world today it might seem impossible to imagine a time when large corporations ran the cities. With money luring their every step, large corporations led without the health of their workers or their consumers in mind leading the cities down a dark, dangerous and unsanitary path. Thankfully, muckrakers of the post world war one era gathered the courage to oppose these corporations and the low standards they seemed to ignore. In particular, Upton Sinclair, the author of The Jungle, led the way for urban renewal in the factories and for the production of food throughout the United States. Sinclair’s courage and the booming outcry from the public paved the way for urban renewal
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Achieving the fame and incomparable significance The Jungle has on todays world, was not an easy feat for the Baltimore born 27 year old. Sinclair was the author of numerous books throughout his college career, and each time he faced the same difficult struggle with his attempt to get them published. Surprisingly, The Jungle was no different story. The Jungle’s road to fame began with harsh rejection from six publishers. They feared the language was too gruesome for the people, furthermore, they were worried Sinclair’s primary desire was to tear down the rich, rather than lift up the desperations of the poor. Without pause Sinclair continued to press forward and published The Jungle in The Appeal to Reason journal in 1905 and, after initial success, as a book in 1906. Sales quickly took off and the book become an international sensation published in seventeen different languages. Sinclair quickly became a household name, allowing him to later have a nearly successful attempt in becoming the governor of California representing the socialist party. Sinclair’s desire to change the world did not stop after his publication of the famous novel, but continued for the rest of his days. Sinclair was known for his unceasing desire to represent the working class citizens through his socialist

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