Unit 6: Populists and Progressives

1. Unit 6: Populists and Progressives Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire

2. March 25th, 1911 • At 4:40 in the afternoon, smoke was spotted. Most likely caused by a secret cigarette that hit a pile of cuttings • The Triangle Shirtwaist Company occupied the 8th, 9th, and 10th floor of the Asch Building. • The doors were locked and chained to stop unauthorized breaks

3. A Sweatshop • Most workers were female or young. • Received $7 - $12 a week in pay • That is about $3.20-$5.50 in today’s money.

4. Try to escape • No fire alarm for early warning. A women on the 8th floor called the 10th floor but could tell the 9th floor. • Staircases were quickly consumed by fire • Fire escape stairs not built properly (not inspected), collapsed with 20 people on it killing them all as it fell 100 feet. • 2 elevator operators each made 3 trips with packed cars rescuing as many as they could. By then, heat had warped the rails and couldn’t move. • Fire department ladders could only reach the 6th floor. • Foreman who had key to the doors, escaped and took key with him. • Many escaped to the roof and survived. Many chose to jump to their death instead of being burned alive.

5. William Gun Shepard - Reporter • “I learned a new sound that day, a sound more horrible than description can picture, the thud of a speeding living body on a stone sidewalk”

6. Aftermath • 123 women killed • 23 men • Oldest was 43 • Youngest (2) was 14. • Both owners were acquitted but later found guilty in a civil suit. Forced to pay $75 to each workers family. • They received an insurance check that ended up being $400 per worker.

7. Inquiry based learning • Progressivism has been defined as “ending the evils of the world” or making things better. • Research how the fire helped push progressivism further. What effects did the fire have on the worker safety and their future?

8. Effects of the fire • Rose Schneiderman at the memorial pushed hard for women workers unions • New York State passed 60 laws from 1911-1913 that included: • Access and egress, fireproofing, fire extinguishers, fire alarms, sprinklers, and limited child working hours.