Ida Tarbell
Shannon Gaines Period-6
Who is She?
Ida Tarbell was a leading Muckraker in the progressive era. She exposed John D. Rockefeller and his corrupt ways in the Standard Oil Company. She wrote him to be a money- grabbing man who monopolized the Oil Trade and attempted to take over the entire business. She is famous for her book, "The History of the Standard Oil Company" and her many magazine articles as well.
Journalist and Fighter
Tarbell was described in a subheading of a magazine as, "How a female investigative journalist brought down the world's greatest tycoon and broke up the Standard Oil monopoly".
Her Works
Tarbell wrote her own book exposing the Standard Oil Company along with many magazine articles that showed the true colors of those who were manipulating the system.
"The way to right the wrong is to turn the light upon them"
She believed that the best way to show how the Standard Oil Company actually worked was to draw as much attention to the profane ways of the business.
Ida Tarbell: The Woman Who Took Down Standard Oil
Tarbell & Thoreau
Both Tarbell and Thoreau saw the unjust in something very important to the country and decided to write about its tainted ways. Tarbell saw the foul play going on in the Standard Oil Company and riskily took her research and wrote about what she found and exposed it to the world. Tarbell saw how much control Rockefeller had and how much he needed to be exposed. Like wise, Thoreau saw how power hungry our government is and the many flaws in their system. Both rebels wrote great works on their causes whether it be the scam on voting our offices to getting the Standard Oil Company monopoly broken up, both authors spoke the truth when many people wouldn't. This quality alone gives both Tarbell and Thoreau respect and admiration from those who read their works.