Unit+3.3

Public Outrage – The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Content Expectations: USHG 6.3.1; USHG 6.3.2; C3.5.1; E1.4.4

Key Concepts: muckraking, Progressivism, reform movements, regulatory legislation, social issues/ social problems

Abstract: During industrialization many workers faced harsh and unsafe working conditions. The fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory demonstrated the deplorable conditions facing workers. The tragic death of 146 young immigrant workers epitomized the extremes of industrialism. Public outcry supported Progressive reformers in their push for regulations of working conditions and other safety issues.

Begin the lesson by providing students with a brief introduction of the Triangle Fire similar to the one stated above. Then have students work with a partner to explore the website http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/ to learn about the Triangle Factory Fire. The website has a multitude of sources from photographs, cartoons, audio files, newspaper articles, etc. After students have been allowed 10 minutes to learn about the fire, distribute copies of “Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Source Analysis” sheet located in the Supplemental Materials (Unit 3). Have students work with their partner to select and analyze two sources from the website by answering the questions on the handout. (Teacher Note: “Sources - Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire” located in the Supplemental Materials (Unit 3) contains pictures from the website in case your school does not have access to the website for students).

Next, have students get into larger groups of 6 to 8 students each. Tell students that each group is taking on the role of an investigatory commission. Student partners should share their evidence and analyses with their team. After each partner group has reported, the team needs to use the evidence and analyses to develop a recommendation to the State of New York or to the U.S. Congress. Then, have the teams share their recommendations with the whole class. Discuss the recommendations using the following questions: What was similar among the recommendations? Why do you think so? What were some of the differences in the recommendations? What might account for the differences? Did you consider certain pieces of evidence differently? Did some have more weight? Why so? How might the fire, its causes and consequences, have changed how people viewed the functions of government?

Explain to students that the fire created such uproar that the State of New York put together a commission that lasted almost 5 years to investigate all types of unsafe working conditions in factories throughout the city. The commission’s report is generally credited with providing the blueprint for worker safety laws that were enacted for years afterward. The report criticized everything from long work hours, low wages, child labor, inhumane conditions, and unsafe workplaces. Discuss the following question with the class: How did workers see "progress" as a result of the Triangle Shirtwaist fire?

Conclude the lesson by having students answer the following question in their Freedom Tracking Notebook: Did the muckrakers help to preserve and expand freedom in the United States? Why or why not? Be sure to use evidence from the previous two lessons (The Jungle and Responses to the Triangle Fire).