Posted: December 3rd, 2022

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Introduction
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was a major event that catalyzed the labor market. The tragic incident led to the death of 146 workers, the majority of them being women and girls. In 1911, the industry sector was booming with massive investments but poor working conditions for the employees. The victims died of fire, smoke inhalation, and jumping to their deaths from the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors (Hazelwood 75). The aftermath of the incident was the development of policies to improve the safety of workers. Activists organized protests that attracted over 80,000 people while government officials such as the governor and senator of New York pushed for improvement of the safety standards. The owners, Max Blanck and Isaac Harris were acquitted of the charges despite efforts by the prosecution team to demonstrate the duo were aware that the exit doors were locked thus exposing the workers to risk. The tragic Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire led to the deaths of 146 workers and catalyzed the introduction of federal fire safety procedures.
Background of Tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
In 1911, the industry sector was booming with massive investments but poor working conditions for the employees. The factory owners had little concern for the workers since they could pay the workers peanuts, expose them to the risks of fire, and burn their premises to collect compensation from insurance companies (Hazelwood 75). Greenwich Village in Manhattan, New York was home to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. A tragic fire accident occurred in the factory at Asch Building leading to the death of 146 employees (Koslow 118). The victims died of fire, smoke inhalation, and jumping to their deaths from the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors.
Analysts indicate that various factors lead to the high number of fatalities in the incident that was the deadliest industrial disaster in New York City. One of the factors is that the stairwells and exit doors were locked (Koslow 118). It was a common practice among factories to prevent theft or unauthorized breaks. Research shows that the workers were underage women who could not speak English. Statistics show that out of the 146 deaths, 123 were women and girls and 23 were men (Wisniewska 123). The large percentage of fatality among women was due to a lack of fire drills and automatic sprinklers. Other factors include highly flammable materials and machinery that were soaked in oil (Wisniewska 124). The poor and unsafe working conditions were a result of neglect among the factory owners for the safety of workers. The companies were operating for profit without minding the welfare of workers.
Results of the Fire Incident
The fire incident was a source of changes in the industry sector. Government and activists pushed for the development of measures to safeguard employees. The triangle shirtwaist fire led to the development of policies to safeguard the security of factory workers (Wisniewska 126). It led to the enforcement of fire safety regulations including automatic sprinklers, market exit doors, and fire drills. Before the incident, there was no requirement to complete fire drills. Research shows that if the safety standards had been conducted the fatalities could have lessened (Naiman 4). The introduction of federal fire safety reforms in all buildings and companies was an important change to improve the safety of workers.
The fire incident attracted attention from politicians and policymakers. New York Governor Alfred E. Smith and Senator Robert F. Wagner pushed for the labor reforms to protect workers. President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced a New Deal agenda to investigate the cause of the fire incident (Naiman 4). Another result was that the workers organized a march on April 5 on Fifth Avenue. The protest was successful in calling for a massive change in the labor sector. Over 80,000 people attended the march calling for the government to take action against the factory owners who were putting the lives of their workers at risk (Naiman 6). The government enacted Sullivan-Hoey Fire Prevention Law to improve the safety of workers.
Feminism was another outcome of the fire incident. The feminism movement was punishing for equal rights for the women workers. Some of their agendas were quality and safe workplaces, decent salaries, and women empowerment (Naiman 7). Women empowerment comprised of education opportunities for women. An investigation in the Triangle Shirtwaist fire incident showed that the company had employed young immigrant girls (Naiman 6). Some of them could not speak fluent English thus showing the disregard of the employers on employee welfare. Women activists organized an uprising of over 20,000 women, making it the largest strike by women in the United States’ history (Naiman 9). The activism was a catalyst to the major reforms that would be undertaken in the labor sector.
The union membership in New York increased since the employees realized that to win better they had to stand together. One of the greatest motivations is among women who wanted to see better treatment of the female gender in the labor force. Another motivation was that the victims’ families were poorly compensated by the owners (Hazelwood 76). Whereas the insurer paid $400 per person, the company owners paid $75 for every victim. The poor compensation was a reminder to the activists that the industry needed massive changes to protect the interests of the workers (Hazelwood 77). Sadly, over a decade later the women still face discrimination at the workplace by receiving less pay. Women are exposed to sexual abuse and forced to handle tasks that jeopardize their safety.
Historic Ruling
The aftermath of the tragic fire incident was the death of 146 workers. The company owners were charged with first and second-degree manslaughter. The owners, Max Blanck and Isaac Harris were acquitted of the charges despite efforts by the prosecution team to demonstrate the duo were aware that the exit doors were locked thus exposing the workers to risk (Koslow 119). A subsequent trial awarded the duo a compensation of over $60,000 for the deceased. In 1913, Blanck was arrested for closing the exit door during working hours (Koslow 120). He was charged $20 which was the minimum charge that could ever be charged for a guilty person.
The amount charged on Blanck and the acquittal by the jury show the lack of consideration for the well-being of the workers. Studies show that the disregard for the rights of works was a major contributing factor to the death (Wisniewska 125). Failure to charge the factory owners set a precedent that would encourage other investors to expose their workers to safety issues. Today, the United States market still faces challenges in the implementation of safety standards.
Changes during the Century
The fire incident and the regulations such as OSHA were part of the major changes that were occurring in the 1900s. One of the significant changes was that President Wilson developed and proposed a 14-points policy to prevent the world from sliding into another global war (Travkina 183). Some of the changes in the policy were to end imperialism and guarantee the sovereignty of states. It was important to ensure that an international body was handling international disputes (Travkina 183). Despite the changes in the labor movement, the world was marking significant changes that would guarantee the safety and sovereignty of states.
Cultural changes were occurring due to the role of the activists to push for the eradication of discrimination. The discrimination was a detrimental factor that would affect the black community. Workers were not giving equal opportunities to the African-Americans (Wisniewska 127). The government was reluctant to allow black people to register as voters. To date, the American community is battling with the issues of discrimination based on gender and race. A study shows that the United States still lags in implementing quality employee protection (Wisniewska 129). The study ranks the country at position 29 out of 30 OECD countries managing only to beat Turkey.
Conclusion
Greenwich Village in Manhattan, New York was home to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. The tragic incident led to the death of 146 employees, 123 girls and women, and 23 men. the causes of the fire were fire, smoke inhalation, and jumping to their deaths. Some of the contributing factors were lack of fire drills, automatic sprinklers, highly flammable materials, and machinery that were soaked in oil. The incident attracted the attention of activists and government officials who pushed for the introduction of federal fire safety regulations. Feminists pushed for equal rights for women, decent pay, and the safety of the workers. The acquittal of the owners demonstrates the long struggle of the American public to enhance employees’ safety.

Works Cited
Hazelwood, Rachel. “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.” The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship, Volume 12, 2020: 74-93.
Koslow, Jennifer. “See You in the Streets: Art, Action, and Remembering the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire by Ruth Sergel.” (2017): 117-129.
Naiman, Eleanor. “Educated to Death? Women’s Higher Education, Reproductive Health, and the Scientific Method in the United States, 1870-1900.” Swarthmore Undergraduate History Journal 1.1 (2020): 4-11.
Travkina, Natalya. “Moral and Religious Aspects of Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points.” Recent and Modern History (2020): 182-191.
Wisniewska, Ewa. “The Press Depiction of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York on March 25, 1911.” Historic Studies, 16 (2016): 123-131.

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
Introduction
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was a major event that catalyzed the labor market. The tragic incident led to the death of 146 workers, the majority of them being women and girls. In 1911, the industry sector was booming with massive investments but poor working conditions for the employees. The victims died of fire, smoke inhalation, and jumping to their deaths from the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors (Hazelwood 75). The aftermath of the incident was the development of policies to improve the safety of workers. Activists organized protests that attracted over 80,000 people while government officials such as the governor and senator of New York pushed for improvement of the safety standards. The owners, Max Blanck and Isaac Harris were acquitted of the charges despite efforts by the prosecution team to demonstrate the duo were aware that the exit doors were locked thus exposing the workers to risk. The tragic Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire led to the deaths of 146 workers and catalyzed the introduction of federal fire safety procedures.
Background of Tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
In 1911, the industry sector was booming with massive investments but poor working conditions for the employees. The factory owners had little concern for the workers since they could pay the workers peanuts, expose them to the risks of fire, and burn their premises to collect compensation from insurance companies (Hazelwood 75). Greenwich Village in Manhattan, New York was home to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. A tragic fire accident occurred in the factory at Asch Building leading to the death of 146 employees (Koslow 118). The victims died of fire, smoke inhalation, and jumping to their deaths from the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors.
Analysts indicate that various factors lead to the high number of fatalities in the incident that was the deadliest industrial disaster in New York City. One of the factors is that the stairwells and exit doors were locked (Koslow 118). It was a common practice among factories to prevent theft or unauthorized breaks. Research shows that the workers were underage women who could not speak English. Statistics show that out of the 146 deaths, 123 were women and girls and 23 were men (Wisniewska 123). The large percentage of fatality among women was due to a lack of fire drills and automatic sprinklers. Other factors include highly flammable materials and machinery that were soaked in oil (Wisniewska 124). The poor and unsafe working conditions were a result of neglect among the factory owners for the safety of workers. The companies were operating for profit without minding the welfare of workers.
Results of the Fire Incident
The fire incident was a source of changes in the industry sector. Government and activists pushed for the development of measures to safeguard employees. The triangle shirtwaist fire led to the development of policies to safeguard the security of factory workers (Wisniewska 126). It led to the enforcement of fire safety regulations including automatic sprinklers, market exit doors, and fire drills. Before the incident, there was no requirement to complete fire drills. Research shows that if the safety standards had been conducted the fatalities could have lessened (Naiman 4). The introduction of federal fire safety reforms in all buildings and companies was an important change to improve the safety of workers.
The fire incident attracted attention from politicians and policymakers. New York Governor Alfred E. Smith and Senator Robert F. Wagner pushed for the labor reforms to protect workers. President Franklin D. Roosevelt introduced a New Deal agenda to investigate the cause of the fire incident (Naiman 4). Another result was that the workers organized a march on April 5 on Fifth Avenue. The protest was successful in calling for a massive change in the labor sector. Over 80,000 people attended the march calling for the government to take action against the factory owners who were putting the lives of their workers at risk (Naiman 6). The government enacted Sullivan-Hoey Fire Prevention Law to improve the safety of workers.
Feminism was another outcome of the fire incident. The feminism movement was punishing for equal rights for the women workers. Some of their agendas were quality and safe workplaces, decent salaries, and women empowerment (Naiman 7). Women empowerment comprised of education opportunities for women. An investigation in the Triangle Shirtwaist fire incident showed that the company had employed young immigrant girls (Naiman 6). Some of them could not speak fluent English thus showing the disregard of the employers on employee welfare. Women activists organized an uprising of over 20,000 women, making it the largest strike by women in the United States’ history (Naiman 9). The activism was a catalyst to the major reforms that would be undertaken in the labor sector.
The union membership in New York increased since the employees realized that to win better they had to stand together. One of the greatest motivations is among women who wanted to see better treatment of the female gender in the labor force. Another motivation was that the victims’ families were poorly compensated by the owners (Hazelwood 76). Whereas the insurer paid $400 per person, the company owners paid $75 for every victim. The poor compensation was a reminder to the activists that the industry needed massive changes to protect the interests of the workers (Hazelwood 77). Sadly, over a decade later the women still face discrimination at the workplace by receiving less pay. Women are exposed to sexual abuse and forced to handle tasks that jeopardize their safety.
Historic Ruling
The aftermath of the tragic fire incident was the death of 146 workers. The company owners were charged with first and second-degree manslaughter. The owners, Max Blanck and Isaac Harris were acquitted of the charges despite efforts by the prosecution team to demonstrate the duo were aware that the exit doors were locked thus exposing the workers to risk (Koslow 119). A subsequent trial awarded the duo a compensation of over $60,000 for the deceased. In 1913, Blanck was arrested for closing the exit door during working hours (Koslow 120). He was charged $20 which was the minimum charge that could ever be charged for a guilty person.
The amount charged on Blanck and the acquittal by the jury show the lack of consideration for the well-being of the workers. Studies show that the disregard for the rights of works was a major contributing factor to the death (Wisniewska 125). Failure to charge the factory owners set a precedent that would encourage other investors to expose their workers to safety issues. Today, the United States market still faces challenges in the implementation of safety standards.
Changes during the Century
The fire incident and the regulations such as OSHA were part of the major changes that were occurring in the 1900s. One of the significant changes was that President Wilson developed and proposed a 14-points policy to prevent the world from sliding into another global war (Travkina 183). Some of the changes in the policy were to end imperialism and guarantee the sovereignty of states. It was important to ensure that an international body was handling international disputes (Travkina 183). Despite the changes in the labor movement, the world was marking significant changes that would guarantee the safety and sovereignty of states.
Cultural changes were occurring due to the role of the activists to push for the eradication of discrimination. The discrimination was a detrimental factor that would affect the black community. Workers were not giving equal opportunities to the African-Americans (Wisniewska 127). The government was reluctant to allow black people to register as voters. To date, the American community is battling with the issues of discrimination based on gender and race. A study shows that the United States still lags in implementing quality employee protection (Wisniewska 129). The study ranks the country at position 29 out of 30 OECD countries managing only to beat Turkey.
Conclusion
Greenwich Village in Manhattan, New York was home to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. The tragic incident led to the death of 146 employees, 123 girls and women, and 23 men. the causes of the fire were fire, smoke inhalation, and jumping to their deaths. Some of the contributing factors were lack of fire drills, automatic sprinklers, highly flammable materials, and machinery that were soaked in oil. The incident attracted the attention of activists and government officials who pushed for the introduction of federal fire safety regulations. Feminists pushed for equal rights for women, decent pay, and the safety of the workers. The acquittal of the owners demonstrates the long struggle of the American public to enhance employees’ safety.

Works Cited
Hazelwood, Rachel. “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire.” The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship, Volume 12, 2020: 74-93.
Koslow, Jennifer. “See You in the Streets: Art, Action, and Remembering the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire by Ruth Sergel.” (2017): 117-129.
Naiman, Eleanor. “Educated to Death? Women’s Higher Education, Reproductive Health, and the Scientific Method in the United States, 1870-1900.” Swarthmore Undergraduate History Journal 1.1 (2020): 4-11.
Travkina, Natalya. “Moral and Religious Aspects of Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points.” Recent and Modern History (2020): 182-191.
Wisniewska, Ewa. “The Press Depiction of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York on March 25, 1911.” Historic Studies, 16 (2016): 123-131.

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