What was significant about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City?

In one of the darkest moments of America’s industrial history, the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory in New York City burns down, killing 146 workers, on March 25, 1911. The tragedy led to the development of a series of laws and regulations that better protected the safety of factory workers.

What did the Triangle Shirtwaist fire cause?

On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory in New York City burned, killing 146 workers. The tragedy brought widespread attention to the dangerous sweatshop conditions of factories, and led to the development of a series of laws and regulations that better protected the safety of workers.

What was the Triangle Shirtwaist Company and why was it important?

On March 25, 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire claimed the lives of 146 garment workers who were trapped in an unsafe building during the preventable blaze.

What was the Triangle Shirtwaist fire quizlet?

Terms in this set (5) (pg 582), a fire in New York’s Triangle Shirtwaist Company in 1911 killed 146 people, mostly women. They died because the doors were locked and the windows were too high for them to get to the ground. Dramatized the poor working conditions and let to federal regulations to protect workers.

What happened to Isaac Harris and Max Blanck?

The trial in December 1911 lasted three weeks, and centered on the locked door that would have led to the second flight of stairs. On December 27, after the court heard emotional testimony from more than 100 witnesses, both Harris and Blanck were acquitted of all charges.

What laws came from the Triangle Shirtwaist fire?

With public outrage growing, New York state legislators enacted a law creating the Factory Investigating Commission, a watchdog agency with sweeping powers to probe labor conditions throughout the state. “There were over 20 laws passed which changed fire safety, building safety, charged the state with worker safety.”

How could the Triangle Shirtwaist fire be prevented?

In addition, before the fire occurred, there was a lack of fire safety regulations. This led to enforcing automatic sprinklers, fire drills, and marked fire exit doors. Previously, there were no regulations stating that fire drills had to be conducted, therefore, the factory never completed any.

What changed after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire?

Amid the national scandal that followed the Triangle shirtwaist fire and resounding calls for change, New York State enacted many of the first significant worker protection laws. The tragedy led to fire-prevention legislation, factory inspection laws, and the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union.

Who are Max Blanck and Isaac Harris?

Max Blanck and Isaac Harris, owners of the large Triangle Shirtwaist factory were known as the “Shirtwaist Kings.” They immigrated to the United States from Russia and had made a fortune manufacturing “Gibson girl” style blouses.

Why did the owners Max Blanck and Isaac Harris lock the exit doors?

A foreman monitored the largely female immigrant workforce during the day and inspected the women’s bags as they left for the night. As an additional safeguard against theft, Max Blanck ordered the secondary exit door to be locked. Poor working conditions increased dissatisfaction among employees.

What kept the employees from leaving the building when the fire started?

The ladder only reached the seventh and sixth floors when the workers were in the 9th and 10th floors. The hoses were not able to reach the 9th and 10th floors, therefore, they were unable to save the workers from the scorching fire.

What laws were put in place after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire?

Where was the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire located?

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, on March 25, 1911, was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city, and one of the deadliest in U.S. history.

Where can I find the Triangle Factory fire documentary?

“Triangle Fire” Documentary from American Experience on PBS. The Kheel Center at Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations – This site houses an extensive archive of information on the fire. Primary documents include newspaper accounts, interviews with survivors, and a partial transcript of the trial of the factory’s owners.

Who was the last survivor of the Triangle Shirtwaist fire?

As a result of the fire, the American Society of Safety Professionals was founded in New York City on October 14, 1911. The last living survivor of the fire was Rose Freedman, née Rosenfeld, who died in Beverly Hills, California, on February 15, 2001 at the age of 107.

Who was the elevator operator in the Triangle Shirtwaist fire?

Elevator operators Joseph Zito and Gaspar Mortillaro saved many lives by traveling three times up to the 9th floor for passengers, but Mortillaro was eventually forced to give up when the rails of his elevator buckled under the heat.