Why was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory so important?
The Triangle shirtwaist factory fire killed 146 garment workers, most of them young immigrant women, on March 25, 1911, in New York City. It was a critical event in the history of the U.S. labor movement, the New Deal, the development of occupational safety and health standards, and the New York City Fire Department.
What happened at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory?
On Saturday, March 25, 1911, a fire broke out on the top floors of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory. Trapped inside because the owners had locked the fire escape exit doors, workers jumped to their deaths. In a half an hour, the fire was over, and 146 of the 500 workers—mostly young women—were dead.
Why were the doors locked at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory?
They had to supply their own needles, thread, irons and sometimes, even their own sewing machines. Working conditions were so bad that the women didn’t even have access to a bathroom in the building, and doors were locked so that they couldn’t go outside and slow down production.
What caused the Triangle fire?
What Started The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire? On March 25, a Saturday afternoon, there were 600 workers at the factory when a fire began in a rag bin. The manager attempted to use the fire hose to extinguish it, but was unsuccessful, as the hose was rotted and its valve was rusted shut.
What was true of the factories in New York City before the Triangle fire?
What is true of the factories in New York City before the Triangle Factory Fire? They were dirty, overcrowded firetraps. What changes occurred in the aftermath of the tragedy.
What happened to the owners of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory?
The strike soon spread to other shirtwaist manufacturers. By Christmas, 723 employees had been arrested, but the public largely sided with labor. Two weeks after the fire, a grand jury indicted Triangle Shirtwaist owners Isaac Harris and Max Blanck on charges of manslaughter.
What was unusual about the 1909 shirtwaist strike?
The New York shirtwaist strike of 1909, also known as the Uprising of the 20,000, was a labour strike primarily involving Jewish women working in New York shirtwaist factories. In February 1910, the NWTUL settled with the factory owners, gaining improved wages, working conditions, and hours.
How many survived the Triangle Shirtwaist fire?
Bessie Cohen, who as a 19-year-old seamstress escaped the Triangle Shirtwaist fire in which 146 of her co-workers perished in 1911, died on Sunday in Los Angeles.