E.P.I.C. Upton Sinclair

Anthony Fragomeni

HIS 3190

There have been but a handful of political movements in America that have reached a level of influence similar to that of Upton Sinclair’s E.P.I.C. campaign for Governor of California during the 1934 midterm elections. Among other ideas, Upton Sinclair’s campaign influenced the characteristics of a period in American political history that was responsible for shaping social and political culture for many decades to follow. This E.P.I.C. campaign can be characterized through the examination of three clear and prominent main points. First, the characteristics of the campaign along with its key points and events will help show just how unique the movement was. A careful consideration of the vital facts pertaining to this campaign is necessary to better understand why this campaign was so important. After doing this we must then look at the rise of modern media politics. The role of the film industry, the rise of newsreels and the opposition that Sinclair faced from the GOP will help to realize the nature of this 1934 campaign. After considering that main idea there is one more to consider. The third main idea that will be addressed is the nature and reaction from Washington and the rest of the country regarding this campaign. The events, facts and characteristics of Upton Sinclair’s E.P.I.C. movement will forever be seen as ground breaking, inspiring and influential to political campaign history. This campaign helped influence a nation in a time of despair while creating a new atmosphere in the hearts and minds of many American people.

Upton Sinclair’s E.P.I.C. campaign, better known as “End Poverty In California” was a socialist movement that was created to do exactly what the flagship declared. The premise for the campaign was to end poverty in California and in some ways, Sinclair’s premise was to “End Poverty In Civilaization.”1 Upton Sinclair had a strong conviction to the notion that “poverty was man-made, that you didn’t need...