HIST 112 1st Edition Lecture 15Triangle Shirtwaist Factory FireOutline of Last Lecture I. WilsonII. Progressive methodsIII. 6 problems confronted by progressives (part 1)Outline of Current LectureI. Triangle Shirtwaist Factory FireCurrent Lecture – Notes from the Triangle Shirtwaist Documentary- Girls as young as 10, mostly immigrants- Was a desired job because the factory was so modern- Owners were Max Blank and Isaac Harris- Fierce competition—Taylorism – get max profit from minimum cost (speed, volume, fastest, best machines)- Workers at other factories were striking- Such harsh work conditions that they couldn’t take a drink, use the restroom, or mess up- Had to inspect workers’ bags before leaving- Only 1 exit because the other door was always locked- Treated workers like animals- Worked down the street from mansions and “lady’s mile”-- an expensive shopping location- Triangle shirtwaist workers went on strike in October 1909- Blank and Harris were immigrants who built triangle factory with their own sweat and hard work- Like many owners, they saw themselves as benevolent providers- Strikes were contagious; people were surrounded by the “language of democracy” and came to expect certain things for themselves- Clara Limlick—started strike, got beaten up, spoke out at labor union meeting- Most managers gave up without a fight—not Blank and Harris- Triangle owners hired people to beat the strikers- Anne Morgan (wealthy elitist) takes up striker’s cause to challenge police brutality- Newspaper gives sympathy to workersThese notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.- Blank and Harris offer higher wages and shorter hours, but workers would not be allowed to join unions—strikers decline, and Anne Morgan leaves the cause- March 25, 1911 fire started by dropped cigarette on 8th floor- Blank and Harris escaped to the roof- No one alerted workers on the 9th floor- Fire escape collapsed- 145 deado 53 jumped/pushed out windowo 19 died in elevator shafo 20+ when fire escape collapsedo 50+
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