Snake Oil Basics
What were snake oil salesmen known for selling?
Fake or misleading medicines
Snake oil salesmen often used this to make products seem trustworthy.
Advertisements
Name one dangerous ingredient found in some snake oil medicines.
Alcohol, cocaine, morphine, or opium
What major time period helped snake oil salesmen become successful?
The Industrial Revolution
What eventually helped stop false medicine advertising?
Government regulation
What kind of traveling performances did snake oil salesmen use to attract crowds?
Medicine shows
What type of claims did snake oil salesmen make about their medicines?
That they could cure many illnesses
What problem did some medicines cause because of addictive ingredients?
Addiction
What grew quickly during industrialization, creating large groups of customers?
What 1906 law required honest labeling of medicines?
The Pure Food and Drug Act
Why did many Americans trust snake oil salesmen?
Healthcare was limited and government laws were weak
What emotion did advertisements often use to convince sick people to buy products?
Fear
True or False: Most snake oil medicines were tested for safety.
False
Many rural Americans had little access to what?
Doctors/Healthcare
Why was the Pure Food and Drug Act important?
It protected consumers from dangerous products
What was another name for many snake oil medicines?
Patent Medicines
What did salesmen use besides speeches to entertain crowds?
Music, Comedy, or Magic tricks
Some people became seriously sick or even died because of what?
Dangerous fake medicines
Businesses during industrialization often cared most about what?
Profit / making money
What problem did reformers want to fix?
Unsafe and dishonest business practices
What time period did snake oil salesmen become especially popular in?
The Industrial Revolution / late 1800s
Why was advertising more powerful during the Industrial Revolution?
Newspapers and printing spread information quickly
Why were companies able to sell dangerous medicines so easily?
What economic idea supported little government control over businesses?
Laissez-faire capitalism
How did snake oil salesmen help change America’s laws?
Public anger led to stronger consumer protection laws