History the Triangle Fire Essay - 2608 Words

Eleonore Constant Fall 2011 History 162 Modern America Dr. Bittel PAPER OPTION #1 The Triangle Fire The terrible fire that revealed a harsh reality to the world Nowadays, it is almost impossible to find a building that does not have exit signs or fire extinguishers in America. Whether in a university or at the work place, exit signs and fire safety instructions can easily be found by anybody. Fire drills are regularly practiced to ensure the least amount of casualty will occur if something goes wrong. However, a hundred years ago safety issues were barely taken into considerations and safety regulations were most of the time inexistent, as illustrates the terrible fire that happened a hundred years ago at the Triangle†¦show more content†¦Nowadays, fire extinguishers would be found in any kind of factory, especially in a garment factory. However none where to be found in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, â€Å"An order had gone out to install automatic sprinklers in factories, but the manufacturers had organized to fight it because I meant so great an expenditure.† (Argersinger, 105). Employers were looking for ways to make as much savings as possible to maximize their profits instead of ensuring a minimum level of security for their workers. Even after the terrible tragedy happened, the new building the Triangle Waist Company used was not even fire proof and â€Å"the firm had already blocked the exit to the fire escape by two rows of sewing machines† (Argersinger, 105). The previous building where the fire had happened would only undergo a few repairs and re-open in the same condition it was in before the fire. This illustrates how the owners of the company did not care much about the safety of their factories, thus it comes as no surprise that the working conditions the shirtwaist makers had to endure were also terrible. The hard working conditions in the factories at that time was another reason why the Triangle Fire was an inevitable tragedy doomed to happen one day or another. Although working in factories had long been reserved to men, the fast growing industrialism allowed women to get out of their home to go work in factories.Show MoreRelatedThe Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire Essay example1460 Words   |  6 Pagesfollowing is a short excerpt of those who fought and died due to the Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire. â€Å"The â€Å"Triangle† Company†¦ With blood this name will be written in the history of the American workers’ movement, and with feel will this history recall the names of the strikers of this shop—of the crusaders.†Ã¢â‚¬â€ Jewish Daily Forward (Drehle) On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire broke out. Proper workers’ rights and fire prevention installations were not in place or were not followedRead More Triangle: The Fire that Changed America Essay1615 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The ‘Triangle’ company, â€Å"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. DavidRead MoreTriangle: The Fire That Changed America Essay1282 Words   |  6 PagesOn the afternoon of March 25, 1911, a fire broke out in the 10-floor Asch Building, a block east of Manhattans Washington Square. This is where 500 mostly young immigrant girls were producing shirts for the Triangle Shirtwaist Company. Within minutes, it spread to consume the buildings upper three stories. Firemen at the scene were unable to rescue those trapped inside: their ladders werent tall enough. Exits were locked, and the narrow fire escapes were inadequate. Panicked, many jumped fromRead MoreEssay about Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire1676 Words   |  7 Pagesand disaster did strike in March, 1911. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York set on fire, killing 146 workers. This is an important event in US history because it helped accomplish the tasks unions and strikes had tried to accomplish years earlier, It improved working conditions in factories nationwide and set new safety laws and regulations so that nothing as catastrophic would happen again. The workplace struggles became public after this fire, and the work industry would never remain theRead MoreThe Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Worker Policies1699 Words   |  7 Pagesindustrialization where there was the development of factory system and mass production, and the increasing growth rate population. While this transformation may have provided many benefits to Americans, it also carried negative results. For instance, The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, located in Manhattan, New York City, managed by Max Blanck and Isaac Harris, sold shirtwaists, an immensely popular necessity that every women desired to have in their closet. Since Blanck and Harris were known for operating theRead MoreTriangle: the Fire That Changed America Essay1432 Words   |  6 Pagescourse of history. On March 25, 1911, one such event took place. The infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Fire occurred that day, and left one hundred and for ty-six people dead in its wake. While many at the time thought the story would soon pass, and with it all the potential bad publicity, the story of the fire spread quickly, and outraged many people. As a result, the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire ended up changing many business and political practices of the time. In his book Triangle: The Fire that ChangedRead MoreDon t Dwell On The Inner Darkness Of Yourself887 Words   |  4 Pagesoffice. Many people questioned my bold personality some accused me of bigotry. Me? Teddy Roosevelt? I prefer to be known as â€Å"TR†, the President to be known in history (1901-1909) as â€Å"The American Lion.† Our new President brought passion and power to the office, courageously leading the American people and Congress toward progressive reforms in history. Presidency power should be utilized to fight for what’s right, in taking any action necessary for the good of the people. I didn’t once agree with anyoneRead More The Triangle Fire Essay1186 Words   |  5 Pages In an era of a rising unionization, The Triangle Fire, calligraphy written my Leon Stein, describes one of the worst industrial disasters in the nation’s history that ended up killing 146 of the 500 Triangle Shirtwaist Company employees, which happened to be female immigrant workers. These immigrants came to the United States with their families in search for a better life. Instead they found themselves working long hours only to receive low wages along with horrendous working circumstances withRead MoreThe Tragedy Of August 25 By Max Blanck And Isaac Harris1426 Words   |  6 PagesThe tragedy of March 25, 1911 was a crucial turning point and important era of awareness of worker powerlessness during the age of early American industrialization. The fir e that consumed the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory remains a haunting memory for this nation. The fates of innocent workers sent a wave of grief throughout the entire nation. The victims died as a result of a serious neglect for safety features within the facility and brought widespread attention to the dangerous working conditionsRead MoreBook Review of Triangle: The Fire That Changed America1473 Words   |  6 PagesTriangle: The Fire That Changed America New York: First Grove Press David Von Drehle 2003 Book Review 1. Did the author make a complete and honest analysis of the topic? This book is about the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City in March, 1911. The factory claimed the lives of 146 women and men, mostly young women, during the 30 minutes that the fire blazed. It is still the largest industrial disaster that has ever happened in New York City. The author of the book writes