USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Trapped inside because the owners had locked the fire escape exit doors, workers jumped to their deaths. In a half an hour, the fire was over, and 146 of the 500 workers-mostly young women-were dead. Many of us have read about the tragic Triangle fire in school textbooks.

Detailed explanation-2: -The fire led to legislation requiring improved factory safety standards and helped spur the growth of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union (ILGWU), which fought for better working conditions for sweatshop workers.

Detailed explanation-3: -The tragic fire took these workers’ lives, decimated their families and communities, and brought widespread attention to the dangerous working conditions in manufacturing, inspiring demands for change.

Detailed explanation-4: -The blaze, the Fire Marshal would later determine, was likely caused by a smoldering cigarette butt or match that had fallen into a bin full of fabric scraps and tissue paper. Smoking was forbidden in the factory, but the employees were known to sneak cigarettes.