Illustration for the question “Which 1906 novel by Upton Sinclair exposed working and sanitary conditions in Chicago’s meatpacking industry?”

Literature

Which 1906 novel by Upton Sinclair exposed working and sanitary conditions in Chicago’s meatpacking industry?

Correct answer The Jungle

Fact

Did you know?

“The Jungle” follows Jurgis Rudkus, a Lithuanian immigrant employed in Chicago’s stockyards and meatpacking plants. Upton Sinclair primarily wanted to reveal worker exploitation, poverty and the brutality of the industrial system, but the public reacted especially strongly to his descriptions of unsanitary food production. The response contributed to the political climate that produced the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. The book therefore became a striking example of thoroughly researched fiction directly influencing national debate and legislation.

Content last updated · August 23, 2026

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