Winter Break Assignment – Progressive Era take home test
The Man with the Muck Rake – Theodore Roosevelt 1906
Due Friday 2/20/15 by 11:59 p.m.
Due on Turnitin.com
On April 15th 1906 Theodore Roosevelt gave his famous speech “The Man with the Muck Rake”. Use
your understanding of this speech and your knowledge of the Gilded Age and the Progressive Era to
answer the following questions in short 1 – 2 paragraph responses.
1. Include a short summary of each paragraph. This summary should be in your own words. Make
sure to include the metaphorical meaning if there is one. (Hint: Was Theodore Roosevelt
actually talking about a man cleaning up poop?)
2. Explain why Theodore Roosevelt used the idea of a Man with a Muck Rake as a metaphor for
journalists.
3. Did Theodore Roosevelt respect journalists who were exposing corrupt politics? Support your
opinion with quotes from his speech?
4. “At this moment we are passing through a period of great unrest – social, political, and industrial
unrest.” What does Roosevelt mean when he says unrest? Give examples of the type of unrest
he is referencing (at least 3 examples)?
5. Choose your favorite quote from Theodore Roosevelt’s speech, and describe how it relates to
the Progressive Era.
6. Would you consider Theodore Roosevelt a Progressive? Why? Support your answer with quotes
from his speech.