The Effects Of The Triangle Fire Of 1911

“The ‘Triangle’ company, “With blood this name will be written in the history of the American workers’ movement, and with feeling will this history recall the names of the strikers of this shop- of the crusaders” (Von Drehle 86). Even before it happen, the Forward predicted the terrible disaster of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory that occurred one year, one month, and seventeen days later (86). Triangle: The Fire that Changed America, by David Von Drehle tells the story of the horrible fire.

After March 25th, 1911, the workplace would never remain the same again. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, often referred to as the fire that changed America, was one of the most impactful events of the early 1900s and soon helped set motion into the era of labor reforms. On March 25th, 1911, The Triangle Shirtwaist factory, owned by Max Blanck and Isaac Harris was engulfed in flames. The factory was located in the top 3 floors of the Asch building in Manhattan, New York. The terrific turn of events left firemen unable to rescue those inside.

Social and economic inequality became a prevalent issue during the Triangle Shirtwaist strike of 1909. Led by Clara Lemlich, 20,000 immigrants, mostly young women, demand a twenty percent pay raise, a fifty-two hour workweek, and a closed shop (59). Consequently, their actions gain a significant amount of attention and catch the eye of Alva Belmont and Anne Morgan, wealthy progressive reformers who perceive the strike as an opportunity to advocate their own objective: women’s suffrage. Carnegie and Sumner believe that efforts to change the natural order are futile, but Morgan professes that after learning about the details of the strike, she, alongside other upper class women, would not be able to live their lives if they did not help the strikers (72). These affluent women demonstrate their support from both sides of the spectrum, from the ribbons and buttons Rose Pastor

A significant transition that happened in early 20th century in the United States was the reform in workers’ rights after the Triangle Factory Fire. 147 died after a fire broke out in 7th, 8th, and 9th floor, mostly women. Although casualties from unsafe factory conditions were not uncommon, this devastating fire really reformed and changed working conditions and workers’ rights. The focus of this essay will be to describe and argue how the medias influence and unions cooperation reformed the factory worker life. Most of the workers in these factories were desperate immigrants struggling to make it by. With the help of the media working for their cause swift change would be following. The media was an important role as it grew support from the middle and upper class for the working conditions of working class members.

The Triangle Waist Company, manufactured women’s clothing and was located in the heart of Manhattan. This company, owned by Max Blanck and Isaac Harris, occupied the floors of the Asch Building. The factory attracted many people in desperate need of work. This consequently led to the workers being taken advantage of by paying them very low wages. They often worked excessively long hours without adequate compensation, and the safety or work conditions were also of no importance. Around the same time other factories were actually standing up and protesting the harsh working conditions in what is known as “sweatshops.” Even after the cloakmakers ' strike of 1910, which established a grievance system, most working conditions did not improve. Also a lot of the workers were immigrant woman and did not have the confidence to stand up to the factory owners. The

Back then, minimum wage was $32.26, and the workers were paid a mere $15, making them work 12 hours everyday. When people began to protested about this, the factory were on of the few to give rights to their employees. They hired police officers to act like thugs and arrest the people who protested against them, and paid politicians to avert their eyes. The factory was owned by two men named Max Blanck and Isaac

The New York City Triangle Waist Company fire was a disastrous event that paved the road for Progressive Era reforms. A day after the fire, there was an article, “Death List Shows Few Identified,” published by the New York Times listing the identifiable and unidentifiable dead and the injured. Because of the revealed appalling working conditions and the gruesome deaths the workers came to, the reader now desires to join the Progressive movement for improved working conditions and factory safety. The historical Triangle Waist Company fire resulted in not only local factory reforms but national factory reforms as well as increased women’s rights. The “Death List Shows Few Identified” article provides a statistical representation and depiction

The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was the epitome offer the labor reform that would impact years to follow. In the year 1911, a tragic incident shook New York City, this incident being the “Triangle Shirtwaist Fire”. The Triangle Shirtwaist Company employed an approximate of 500 people, being from the minority group of young Jewish and Italian women. The Company had already started to play a “key role” in the era of labor history. After about 200 of the company’s women tried to join the “International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union” abbreviated to (ILGWU), the company resorted to firing many of their women. In the year 1909, after the company had taken part in firing women after they tried to join the (ILGWU). This event did cause an outbreak leading

For the first time, the Triangle Shirtwaist fire exposed the awful conditions of New York factories. Many changes took place such the creation of International Ladies ‘Garment Workers Union who held many strikes against the company. Their goal was to negotiate better wages and working conditions for the members of the

The Point was originally surrounded by water on three sides and was called Long Point. This narrow point of land extended into Salem Harbor behind the textile mill buildings. It is located just south of the Downtown and Wharf areas. The Point Neighborhood of Salem is approximately 144 acres. There are an estimated 4100 people living in this densely populated neighborhood. The community is distinguished by a very large proportion of multi-family houses and apartment blocks. It also contains a very high concentration of recent immigrants because of its affordable housing and immigrant owned small businesses.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory took place on March 25th, 1911 which led to 145 deaths. These deaths could have been prevented if the owner’s, Max Blanck and Isaac Harris would have kept up on proper maintenance within the building. There were several reasons why they should have been found guilty for manslaughter, but the courts found them to be not guilty. The reasons are as follows; doors were locked from the outside, water pressure in the hoses wasn’t sufficient and the hose nozzle was rusted shut, no sprinkler system found anywhere in the building, and only 3 of the 4 elevators were in good working order.

The article in NY Times deals with the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire which happened in Lower Manhattan in 1911 and killed 145 workers, mainly immigrants who worked long hours and were trapped in the building when the disaster happened. The article depicts people who used to work long hours at the factory and who were looking forward to start their one day off before the fire changed their life. The article gives details about the tragic incident. It tells the reader that the flames were first seen on the 8th floor, that the workers were trying to fight the fire and that the fire spread so quickly that the within 30 minutes it devastated three floors of the building. The articles talks about the impact the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Although some people suffered from disease, malnutrition, or exhaustion, others went on to own small shops or large clothing lines. In 1888, New York state factory inspectors had explained "in the tenement house districts where clothing is manufactured, there exists a system of labor which is nearly akin to slavery as it is possible to get. The work is done under the eyes of task-masters, who rent a small room or two in the rear part of an upper floor of a high building, put in a few sewing machines, a stove suitable for heating irons, and then hire a number of men and women to work for them. " In the 1880’s, many seamstresses were forced into a system in contracting.

During the 19th century, industrialization of textiles in Great Britain was rapidly increasing, resulting in a production competition throughout the world. The United States was quick to follow behind Great Britain and began producing different types of linens and garments. New York City, the largest concentration of garment factories, began to increase production by shifting to powered, special-purpose machinery, and factories to maximize the output of manufactured goods. Factories targeted unskilled immigrant girls for cheap labor adding to the productivity and, thus, revenue of the company. This exploitation often led to unsafe work environments and abominable living conditions for the poor and working class. Although the revolution led to a growing middle class, the disparity in wealth continued to grow due to the immeasurable amount of immigrants entering the country and the lack of government workplace interventions. Historically, in the early 1900s, the power of industrialization caused mass immigration of Europeans to the United States which caused American society to profoundly evolve and spurred economic growth. Culturally, the many newcomers affected the prevailing customs and shattered societal traditions. And philosophically, masses of cheap laborers landed in New York in the garment industry, where they united to battle workplace safety, inferior wages, and child labor laws. Consequently, The Triangle Fire was the turning point which catalyzed the country and

A plant in Vietnam was inspected by the founder of Vietnam Labor Watch, Thomas Nguyen. The discoveries of what happened in the factories shocked many people and was acknowledged by the company. Supervisors in the Vietnam factory were punishing the female workers because of their work attire. They were forced to do labor that did not involve the production of the athletic shoes and were exposed to excruciating weather they did not need to be subjected to. The results were the hospitalization of some workers, and their basic rights to use a bathroom or have beverages to consume were stripped from them.