Reforming the New Industrial Order

Chapter 8, Section 2, pt. 1

Topic: Reforming the New Industrial Order, pt. 1

Objective: Students will be able to examine the working conditions in 1900 and describe the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

Do Now: What would be the perfect work environment? Explain.

HW: (1) Read and outline Ch. 8, Sect. 2 (2) Finish class activity (3) Current Events article posting (4) Chapter 7 re-test (5) Unit 5 Cover Page

Reforming the Workplace Women, children, immigrants &

AA earn less than average

Progressives fought for:Living wagesShorter hoursBetter conditions

Among the most demanding and dangerous occupations were jobs in the steel mills. At this Homestead plant men toiled 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. In the furnace room,

Bessemer converters belched fire and sparks. The floors were so hot that water sizzled on them. Hundreds of men were killed while working next to molten steel.

In 1907, steel workers earned about 16 cents an hour for dangerous, back-breaking work.

Since steel mills operated continuously, two shifts were used. Once a month, when the shifts exchanged hour, one of the shifts had to toil for 24 hours straight.

Reformer Florence Kelley Nat’l Child Labor Committee

*to persuade legislatures to pass laws against child labor

*laws were passed in 39 states but were not enforced

Businesses depended on cheap labor*1938 nat’l minimum wage law

Working conditions varied from industry to industry, but most factories were badly lit, poorly ventilated, and hazardous. Facing stiff price competition, owners refused to pay for expensive safety features. Textile workers inhaled the dust and fibers that filled the air in the mills. Workers in cigarette factories endured tremendous heat and the stench of tobacco. Garment workers strained their backs crouching over poorly lit tables.

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Workplace safety 146 died public outrage encouraged reform better conditions needed→ NYC strict fire

safety codes implemented throughout the US

Create a Yellow Journalism newspaper article on the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire using the following format:

Newspaper Title

Article Title with Subtitle

Description of the

Incident (4-5 sentences)

PictureAssess the lasting

impact of the Triangle Fire on workers,

business owners, and in American history as

a whole

(4-5 sentences)