Which journalist wrote 'Shame of the Cities' and exposed urban political machines?

• A. Lincoln Steffens
• B. Upton Sinclair
• C. Ida Tarbell
• D. Jacob Riis

Answer: (A)

This question hinges on recognizing muckraking journalism that uncovered city-level corruption during the Progressive Era. Lincoln Steffens wrote Shaming the Cities, a pioneering set of investigative pieces (collected from articles in McClure’s Magazine with a book edition in 1904) that exposed how urban political machines operated. He detailing how machine bosses controlled votes, dispensed patronage, and skimmed public funds, showing the gap between democratic ideals and municipal governance. This work helped spur reforms aimed at cleaning up city government, like civil service protections and more transparent city administrations. By contrast, the other journalists focused on different issues: Upton Sinclair on the meatpacking industry, Ida Tarbell on Standard Oil, and Jacob Riis on urban poverty and housing.