Introduction. In “The Man With The Muck-Rake,” Theodore

Introduction In â€Å"The Man with the Muck-Rake,† Theodore Roosevelt used diction, symbolism, and ethos to convey his convictions on the social and political evils in progressive era America in order to shed light on the necessity of a proper and honest society. Historical Background In the late nineteenth century, America was a country in its prime of industrialization and immigration influx. Known as the Gilded Age, this period defined the United States as the bustling powerhouse it is today, but at the cost of many social and political injustices that lay underneath the guise of the â€Å"American dream†. Among the urbanization and booming industry, there was national and racial discrimination, gender inequality, child exploitation and labor,†¦show more content†¦In the early years of his life, he suffered from poor health and enervating asthma, but that hadn’t stopped him from being an energetic and exuberant child, and these characteristics followed him well into adulthood. He had been a National Guard veteran, the governor of New York City, the assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy, and had taken other high-ranking occupations. (Britannica). His political proficiency, along with his zealous personality, made him a worthy candidate for the American presidency, and he won election in 1904. During his presidency, outside of the office, Roosevelt established the model image of masculinity with his experiences as an explorer and a soldier, and was able to address the common people and their interests. In office, he set forth with expanding the federal government to restrict industries’ power, and he implemented many reforms throughout his terms. These reforms included nature preservation, refined foreign and domestic legislations, and social ordinances to dispute tensions among the American people. He advocated for the people, despite his stance as a Republican, and supported journalists known as muckrakers in their missions of exposing corruption within industry, urban life, and the government. This would ultimately lead to one of his most memorable speeches in United States history, a speech that announced what it meant to be progressive in a time of immorality and unfairness. RhetoricalShow MoreRelatedMuckrakers in the Progressive Era2521 Words   |  11 PagesMuckrakers    The term â€Å"muckraker† was originally coined in a speech in 1906 accredited to President Theodore Roosevelt.   It was alluding to the man with the Muck-Rake in Bunyan’s â€Å"Pilgrim’s Process.   The Man with the Muck rake seeks material advances by raking filth.   Roosevelt defined this term as one who inquires into and publishes scandal and allegations of corruption among political and business leaders.    Muckrakers in the Progressive Era, a time from 1820 until 1920 when America quickly industrialized