Who was the muckraking journalist known for her exposé on Standard Oil?

• A. Jane Addams
• B. Ida Tarbell
• C. Upton Sinclair
• D. Linda Richards

Answer: (B)

The muckraking journalist known for her exposé on Standard Oil was Ida Tarbell. She played a crucial role in the Progressive Era by investigating and publicly exposing the monopolistic practices of Standard Oil, which was owned by John D. Rockefeller. Her detailed reporting revealed how the company engaged in unethical business practices, such as predatory pricing and ruthless competition to eliminate rivals, and ultimately led to public outcry for regulation and reform.

Tarbell's work highlighted the power of investigative journalism in shaping public opinion and policy, contributing significantly to the antitrust movement. Her series of articles, published in McClure's Magazine in the early 1900s, are regarded as exemplary of muckraking journalism, which aimed to address social issues and injustices at the time.

Other individuals mentioned, like Jane Addams, Upton Sinclair, and Linda Richards, made significant contributions in their respective fields, but they were not primarily known for their work on Standard Oil. For example, Upton Sinclair is famous for his novel "The Jungle," which exposed conditions in the meatpacking industry, while Jane Addams is recognized for her social reform efforts and establishment of Hull House. Linda Richards is known as one of the first trained nurses in the United States, not