Read the quotation from Lincoln Steffens’s The Shame of the Cities.

"My purpose was...the see if the shameful facts, spread out in all their shame, would not burn through our civic shamelessness and set fire to American pride."

Which of the following best describes Steffens' purpose in writing about government?
to encourage Americans to feel more pride in their government
to describe corruption in city and state governments
to describe why city and state government officials made certain decisions
to encourage Americans to revolt against their government