Triangle Shirtwaist Fire & progressive reforms

On march 25, 1911, about 500 workers, most;y Italian and Jewish girls, were on the job at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company. A fire broke out in the supposedly fireproof building causing people to rush to the fire escape which caused it to collapse, plunging the people to their deaths. A total of 146 workers died. Woman leaped out of the windows onto fire nets below the building. But the nets tore, killing many who fell to the pavement. Rose Schneiderman, labor leader, became one of the nation’s best-known women labor leaders, because she helped stir powerful public support for reforms. Government appointed fire inspectors to make fire drills, and automatic sprinklers in buildings 7 stories high.

Social Welfare programs: Help insure a minimum standard of living. Municipal: Relating to a city, as in municipal government. Home Rule: A system that gives cities a limited degree of self-rule. Social Welfare Programs: Unemployed benefits Accident & health insurance Social security system for the disabled & elderly. Progressive views on regulating business: Most progressive opposed government control of business, unless the company supplied essential things like water and electricity.

In some cities, voters supported reforms prompted by machine politicians to work with reformers. Together they improved city services, established public heath programs and workplace reforms, and enforced tenement codes. Cities developed relief funds and comities. Cities take over utilities. Some mayors led movements for city supported welfare services.

Voters gained more direct influence in law making and in choosing candidates. Throughout the country, party leaders traditionally had handpicked candidates for public office. Direct Primary: An election in which citizens vote to select nominees for upcoming electors. Initiative: A process in which citizens can put a proposed new law directly on the ballot in the next election by collecting voters signatures on a petition. Referendum: Process that allows citizens to approve or reject a law passed by their legislature. Recall: Procedure that permits voters to remove public officials from office before the next election. In 1904, Oregon began allowing voters, rather than the state legislature, to choose their U.S senators. In 1913, the Seventh Amendment, allowing the direct election of senators, was ratified by the states.

Robert M. La Follette, one of the most determined progressives in the U.S. politics. “Fighting Bob”, because he helped clean up government and produce social welfare reforms. He introduced a new way of running state government. He called on epidemic experts to help draft reform legislation to get it passed, he had the voting roll call read publicly. He served as U.S. senate from 1906 until death in 1926. He ran for president in 1924 but lost- received a 1/6 of the votes. Holding Company: A firm that buys up stocks and bonds of smaller companies. The pure food & Drug Act & the Meat Inspection Act of 1906 was laws required accurate labeling of ingredients, strict sanitary conditions, & a rating system for meats.

In 1903, arbitrators granted the minors 10 percent raise and reduced their workday from 10 hours to 9. This is what TR achieved under his square deal. In 1912, government established a children’s Bureau. In 1913, a Cabinet- level Department of Labor was added and a women’s Bureau in 1920. In 1919, the Eighteenth Amendment was ratified, and it banned the production, sale, or import of alcoholic beverages.

Who wants CANDY? 1. Who were the majority of the people employed by the Triangle Shirtwaist Company? A. Jewish and Italian. 2. How many died, and how did most of them die? A. 146 died, the nets broke, killing many who fell to the pavement. 3. What is the name of the woman who became the nation’s best known labor leader? A. Rose Schneiderman

What does the social welfare program do? Help insure a minimum standard of living. What is municipal? relating to a city, as in municipal government. What is home rule? a system that gives cities a limited degree of self- rule. What is direct primary? an election in which citizens vote to select nominees for upcoming elections. What is initiative? a process in which citizens can put a proposed new law directly on the ballot in the next election by collecting voter’s signatures on a petition. Give an example of social welfare programs: unemployed benefits, accident and health insurance, social security system for the disabled and elderly.

Bonus: What reforms did TR achieve under his square deal? 10% raise and hours went from10 to 9. What are the progressive views on regulating business? most progressives opposed government control of business, unless the company supplied essential things like water and electricity.