“TRIANGLE FIRE”
A look into the
deadliest
workplace
accident in NYC
histor y and it’s
impact on
organized labor
BACKGROUND
 146 die at Triangle Shirtwaist factory – (3/25/1911)
 Illustrates working conditions of immigrant workers in early
20 th Century
 Show growing demand for unions and resistance from factory
owners
 Highlights pioneering women who spearheaded the labor
movement in the garment industry
 Illuminates the dramatic shifts that occur between labor and
govt. b/c of Triangle Fire
THEMES TO THE FILM
1. Immigrant experience (as embodied by the workers of the
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory)
2. Challenges and perils of industrialization
3. Workers’ demands for unionization and bosses’ resistance
to these demands
4. The changing relationship between labor and government
that emerged as a result of the Triangle fire
PREVIEWING QUESTIONS
1. What role does the government play in making 21 st century
workplaces safe for employees and in establishing rules for
employers?
2. What would happen if the government stopped regulating
industry?
The film depicts an epic clash between workers who fought for
unionization and better working conditions, and bosses who
fought equally hard to keep their factories free of unions
and regulations. While watching the film make note of
arguments on both sides of this debate.
 Which of these arguments (workers or bosses) do you
consider most persuasive?
 What caused public opinion to shift from favoring the
factory owners’ arguments to supporting workers’ demands
for workplace regulation?
TRIANGLE FIRE – 03/25/1911
IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE
DREAMS VERSUS REALITIES / RAGS TO RICHES
What brought these immigrants to
America, and what motivated them to
work such long hours?
How did these realities of their working
lives contrast with their dreams and their
observations and promise and
opportunity in America?
In what ways does their (bosses) story
embody the American Dream?
INSIDE THE TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FIRE
CONDITIONS AT THE FACTORY / THE PRICE OF
COMPETITION
What is a shirtwaist?
Describe a typical day at the factory:
tasks, conditions, dangers, pay, docking
of pay, etc
Why did Blanck and Harris believe that
their empire “was under constant siege”?
Why did the owners keep the factory’s
Washington Place exit locked?
DEMANDING A UNION
ENVISIONING CHANGE / A DARING IDEA / “THE MINK
BRIGADE”
 What changes were shirtwaist workers agitating
for when they made the decision to go out on
strike?
 Why did factory owners like Harris and Blanck
see unionization as a threat and personal
attack?
 In your opinion where the workers’ demands
reasonable or were the factory owners justified
in resisting these demands?
 Who was Anne Morgan and what did her (and
the mink brigade’s) support of the workers do
for the cause?
THE FIRE AND ITS AFTERMATH
CAUSES OF THE FIRE / JUSTICE DENIED? / LEGACY
OF A DEADLY BLAZE
What caused the fire? Who was alerted, not
alerted? Who survived and why? How many
people died in the fire?
What was the outcome of the manslaughter
case against Blanck and Harris? Was justice
served?
What impact did the fire have on industry?
What did Samuel Gompers mean when he
said that women had to burn in order to spur
government action on labor safety?
ASSIGNMENT
 Essay Response to one of the following…
1. How does the Triangle Factory workers experience reflect and
illustrate the role and value of working women in the late 19 th and
early 20 th Century in the United States?
2. Why does the labor movement occur? (Consider the greater
historical event that predates this movement as well as the
conditions that come about) How does the labor movement
continue to benefit us today?
3. Why do workers unionize? Why do business owners fight
unionization so much? What role does the government play in this
struggle?
In your essay cite historical details and personal anecdotes
from the documentary to support your argument. This is
your opinion so I don’t have to agree with it, but you need to
make me understand why you believe what you do!
Women and the Labor Movement Essay
Rubric
Requirements and Guidelines
1. 5pts – Basics




Length: ¾ - 2 pgs
Single spaced / 12 pt font (Times)
Name, date, class – top left corner
No extra spaces
2. 10pts – Essay Format




Title – relates to essay, creative
(Triangle Fire – not good!)
Introduction, body, conclusion
Organized – strong topic sentence,
essay flows, easy to follow
Spelling and grammar count
3. 10pts – Content

1. How does the Triangle Factory workers
experience reflect and illustrate the role
and value of working women in the late
19 th and early 20 th Century in the United
States?
2. Why does the labor movement occur?
(Consider the greater historical event
that predates this movement as well as
the conditions that come about) How
does it continue to benefit us today?
3. Why do workers unionize – why are their
efforts more successful that previous
efforts? How does the government’s
relationship and view of workers/unions
change after the Triangle Fire?

Essay Grade:
/25
The question is answered – this isn’t just
a summary of the Triangle Video (choose
1)
Key to a good essay is to EXPLAIN what
you think and why you think it – offer
examples from the video, our lectures,
life today to help make your point