Station Four

The Triangle Waist Fire: New York

* Immigrant women, most only 16-23 years of age.

* fire broke out, probably from a carelessly tossed cigarette.

* Exits from the work floors were limited. The door to the other staircase was locked. (Factory workers were often locked in during work hours to keep them on the job and to prevent pilfering.)

* 146 women were dead.

In 1911, a gruesome disaster in New York inspired progressives to fight for safety in the workplace.

About 500 women worked for the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, a high-rise building sweatshop that made women’s blouses.

Just as they were ending their six-day workweek, a small fire broke out, which quickly spread to three floors.

Escape was nearly impossible, as doors were locked to prevent theft, the flimsy fire escape broke under pressure, and the fire was too high for fire truck ladders to reach.

More than 140 women and men died in the fire, marking a turning point for labor and reform movements.

With the efforts of Union organizer Rose Schneiderman and others, New York State passed the toughest fire-safety laws in the nation, as well as factory inspection and sanitation laws.

New York laws became a model for workplace safety nationwide.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Company FireThe Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire

The Jungle = a book written by Upton Sinclair about the pertaining to the corruption of the American meatpacking industry during the early-20th century.

* poor immigrants* unpleasant living and working conditions* hopelessness among the working class* corruption on the part of those in power

Progressive Era : Reform Leaders

“THE JUNGLE” LEADS TO FOOD REGULATION

• After reading The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, Teddy Roosevelt pushed for passage of the Meat Inspection Act of 1906

• The Act mandated cleaner conditions for meatpacking plants

Big Stick Diplomacy: was the slogan describing President Theodore Roosevelt's corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.

U.S. had the right not only to oppose European intervention in the Western Hemisphere, but also to intervene in the domestic affairs of its neighbors if they proved unable to maintain order and national sovereignty on their own.

He used the Great White fleet to show U.S. Naval Superiority around the world.

United States Imperialism

United States Imperialism• Roosevelt Corollary:

Under Roosevelt, the U.S. adopted the role of policeman for the Western hemisphere.

He also supported the construction of the Panama Canal, allowing the U.S. to expand trade and move navies from the Atlantic to Pacific.

He said that this was necessary to ensure the stability of Latin America.

Spanish American War 1898 = American interests in Cuba combined with “Yellow Journalism” sensationalizing events in Cuba and the sinking of the U.S. battleship Maine led to a declaration of war against Spain in 1898.

The war resulted in America’s emergence as a world power with colonies of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. (Cease Fire

1898 = Spanish American War

United States Imperialism

German “unrestricted submarine warfare” sank neutral U.S. vessels and interfered with U.S. trade. Survivors were not assisted after the attack.

Reasons for U.S. entry: German U-boats sinking American merchant ships

German U Boats

Lusitania = A British luxury cruise liner which was sunk by a German submarine. These subs were called U-boats.

Reasons for U.S. entry: Sinking of the Lusitania

It was a telegram from the Germans to the Mexican government calling for Mexico to join with Germany and fight the U.S.

It promised to return (restore) Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico to Mexico.

Reasons for U.S. entry: Germany asks Mexico to join their cause. Zimmerman Note/telegram.

Woodrow Wilson is the president of the United States during WWI.

He request for Congress to declare war to make the world “Safe for democracy”.

Reasons for U.S. entry: U.S. Declares War!!!!

Isolationism =

The policy of non-interference in foreign conflicts.

The United States wanted to stay clear of conflicts through this policy.

It isolated us by staying neutral and at the same time it protected us.

Homefront and Aftermath of World War I: Domestic Policy changes

League of Nations = was an inter-governmental organization founded as a result of The Treaty of Versailles in 1919–1920.

The League's goals included upholding the new found Rights of Man, disarmament, preventing war through collective security, settling disputes between countries through negotiation, diplomacy and improving global quality of life. Similar to today’s United Nations.

Homefront and Aftermath of World War I: League of Nations