In Upton Sinclair's, "the jungle" what did the citizens of Chicago think when they saw the meat inspectors?

Answer 1

I think that how the real citizens of this time felt after the media revealed the story line of the book. many people were outraged and many demanded a change.

Answer 2

Okay, let's keep in mind that this was during the Progressive Era - a time when reformers demanded changed and journalists were digging up dirt (muckrakers) - I'm sure they were outraged and revolted. Even though the book was fiction, it shocked the nation - it revealed some "gruesome details".
"Muckrakers helped change public opinion. For years, middle class people had ignored the need for reform. When they saw how corruption menaced the nation, they joined with the muckrakers and demanded change."

I hope this helped, I don't know specifically what those citizens thought, but we know that through his book it roused public opinion through out the nation.

Ohhh, wait a minute - do you mean when the citizens visited the meat packing plant? (As opposed to what they thought about the meat inspectors after the release of the book??)