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History Internal Assessment
Research Question
What are the effects of the Triangle Shirtwaist fire and strike?
Two resources have been selected that are written by the experts for shedding light upon one of the most heartbreaking incidents of fire took place in American history. Both the selected resources discussed “Triangle Shirtwaist Factory” and the fire that ignited and took many lives. The first source used is about the transformation through which the US went through after the incident of fire took place, killing hundreds of people. In this source, the writer has provided major details about this fire incident, how this incident took place. In this source, details are also being provided about the victims whom died and the number of dead bodies is also being quoted by the writer so that the reader could come to know about the severity of this fire that set factory on fire in 1911. Both sources provide many useful details but one of the most important things that have been mentioned in this resource (written by Isabella) is the reaction ad the steps that the authorities took after such great destruction (Martinez). This source has the investigatory nature as it has been observed that in this article the writer has mentioned the investigation, started for uncovering the causes of ignition of the fire in this factory. Analysis of this article shows that this source contains sympathetic nature as well that highlights the feeling of the sorrow of the people. Another central factor that has been discussed in this source is reforms that were made by the government so that they could prevent such kind of destructive incidents. Isabella Bello Martinez, in her article “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: The Reaction and Reform” highlights the effect of this fire and destruction that made the US government to focus their attention on the conditions of the workplaces and make them appropriate for the workers by assuring them of life security.
In the second selected source, written by Ellen Wiley Todd “Photojournalism, Visual Culture, and the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire”, he spots a light on some more specific areas as compared to the first article (one written by Isabella). Article written by Ellen is a kind of revolutionary article in which he mainly focuses on the reaction of the female workers who came out after this heart drenching incident (Todd, pp.9). This article also shines a light on the miserable conditions of the female workers who were working in the clothing factories on below subsistence wages. This article mainly reflects the sufferings of the females who were working in the sweatshops and factors (Clayton et al, pp. 59-59). Another major area that has been covered in this source is that after the incident of the Shirtwaist Factory, women workers called out for meetings, rallies, and other public gathering so that they could bring the attention of the concerned people and the authorities towards this sensitive issue, of providing safe working environment to the workers whose safety must be the central responsibly of the factory owners and the governments. This source primarily appeals to the readers by presenting the visual imagery of those who were standing silently near the corpse of the women, who were forced to jump out of the factory because of the unsafe working environment of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory (Rogers et al, 145-147). So a whole, after analyzing both the sources, it could be promulgated that both are quite relevant to the research question “investigation of the effects of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire and the strike”.
Historic event
The historic incident of fire of "The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory" has been investigated in this document and for investing this gloomy event, many sources have been consulted and the two most popular and well-searched documents were the main area of focus. For investigating this historic event of brutal fire in the factory of clothing both written and non-written sources are used but the main focus was on the two written articles that investigated the cause of the fire and the effects of the factory workers who become like the victims were working in other factories. Incident of “Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire” has been investigated from different perspectives (Uchitelle et al, pp.453-456). In her article, Isabella investigated the conditions under which the young female immigrant workers were forced to work and risks their lives were put in. On the other hand, in the second source being used, Ellen investigated the incident by arousing pity for the victims by presenting the deadly scenes visually after the fire took hundreds of lives.
In this document, a light has been spotted on the fieldwork as well. In “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory” fieldwork highlighted is a clothing factory where hundreds of young females were working for earning their livelihood. After this incident, this building becomes a historic building as it took more hundred lives and caused many families to suffer. History is studied in a systematic way by consulting these two documents that investigated the destruction caused by fire and lasting psychological effects on the victims (López et al, pp.872-874). Both these articles investigate the response of the government and the immigrants. It was the incident that left the whole nation in grief and critical evaluation of the articles shows that the effects of the fire made the authorities aware of the reforms that need to be made. Destruction of the fire was investigated and there was seen a storm of the protests in favor of the factory workers so that reforms could be made and implement for providing factory workers with protection.
Reflection
Investigation of effects of the fire at the factory as well as a strike that was the result of destruction shows that workers used to earn money for the master from which they used to be given only a small cut as their salaries. Writers of both the sources has highlighted how the workers raised their voice against the authorities and the government who were unaware of the risks and threats factor workers were facing (Paolucci et al, pp. 186-193). Investigation of the sources also spots light on the methods and challenges faced by historians while analyzing the effects of fire and the strike followed by this incident.
For investing the sources, few methods have been used but of all, most important is checking the details and comparing them with other sources so that the authenticity of the facts and figures could be checked. Historians while writing anything track back the previous records such as diaries, interviews, speeches, and photographs, so same thing has been done and the past record has been check for investigating this incident of fire. Primary and secondary sources are investigated so that artifacts could be obtained. For investigating the selected sources, purpose of writing should be discovered. It has been investigated that both selected sources are written for highlighting the effects of the deadly fire. The content used in both sources is quite relevant and shows the positive impact due to which reforms were made. After the protest of young immigrants against the employers and the government reforms were not only made but also implemented (Bush, pp. 174-174). Like the historians, the investigation of the sources has been done for knowing the cause due to which the fire ignited by consulting papers written by others.
The next method that was used was of investigation of consequence of the fire as well as the strike of the young female workers (Arrington et al, pp. 77-89). For investigating the consequences, records of dead bodies were checked and for investigating the reforms that were made as a result of the protest, changes were observed. Changes were analyzed that were done by factory owners and policies that protect were supposed to protect the workers. Investigating the continuity of the effects that strikes caused, was also important and for the implementation of these reforms different factories were visited. This investigation was also done by interviewing the workers about the continuity of the reforms. Other important aspects of the investigation include change, significance, and perspective about the incident, reforms, and implementations that have been highlighted in both the sources. For investigating these elements method used is visiting factories, keeping a record consulting other documents and interviewing both the employers as well as the workers.
Analysis of both the selected articles shows the limitations of both. The first article written by Isabella does not have any authentic stats and solid evidence. In her article, she does not include the details about the workers, whether they were satisfied with the progression or the reforms. Opinions of the workers were missing in this article. Taking a look at the second article it could be seen that the writer has spotted a light on the two incidents, due to which attention of the reader was divided. More emphasize was on the visual representation rather than giving detail of effects and the consequence of how the lives of the workers were changed weakened this article. Historians face the challenge of tracking the material or the data that has some solid basis. In contrast with the mathematicians and scientists, historians believe it is hard to find the sources and prove through them, how history changed over time. Scientists and mathematic can research anywhere but historians have to move around for gathering the details regarding the topic. Archive based history presents the challenge of moving to the physical location where historical records are accumulated.
In order to test the reliability of the source, it is important to check and evaluate the verifiability and recency of the source. Next, the author or the creator of the source needs to be tested (Pearcy). For checking the reliability of the source critique of the experts must be consulted as well. Bias is the favoring of one side suppressing the reality as turning the things in support of one side only whereas selection is the choice on among others and then spotting a light on that chosen one only (Jones et al, pp. 9-10). The historical event constitutes an important incident that took place in history and serves as the archetype. The historic event is something that took place in the past but still has a place at present. Historical significance is a process that is used for evaluating the importance of the events that took place in the past and historians are the main people who decide which events are of historic significance. They set different criteria for judging the significance of an event. The impact of the event also determines its significance. Yes, it is possible to describe the historical events in an unbiased way, though the victims are the ones who get sympathy. It is the ability of a historian to state the incident in an unbiased manner (Foster et al, pp. 35-36). Taking about the history, role of the historian cannot be denied as he/she is the key figure who tracks back the records and compiles the data in one document.
The role of the historian is to collect the data from different sources along with possible evidences. It is also the role of the historian to organize the data in a sequence and interpret its authenticity and relative significance of the gathered data. The role of the historian is to consult different sources such as files, photographs, archives, court records, diaries, news, books, pamphlets, and periodicals, etc. A historian plays a significant role in writing the past and relating them to the human race. Yes, a historian should mention all the facts and terms that could give a better understanding to the readers. Terms like atrocity should be included so that a comparison of the past could be made with a present for implementing possible changes. Yes, value judgments should be avoided while writing the historic so that historic documents could remain unbiased. Historic records that have proof with them as evidence for explaining and proving what they say gives authenticity to them. It has been seen that as history is all about the past it is a hard job to establish proofs but this does not mean one should reject those historic documents that are without proofs. Not all the versions of the historic sources are equally acceptable rather those with proofs are the ones preferred as they prove what they say.
Works Cited
Arrington, Deidra W. "Ethical and sustainable luxury: The paradox of consumerism and caring." Engaging with Fashion. Brill Rodopi, 2019. 77-89.
Bush, Elizabeth. "The Only Woman in the Photo: Frances Perkins & Her New Deal for America by Kathleen Krull." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 73.4 (2019): 174-174.
Clayton, Todd. "The Complete First Aid Pocket Guide." Professional Safety 64.11 (2019): 59-59.
Foster, Jennifer D. "Killer Style: The History of How Fashion Has Injured, Maimed, & Murdered Through History." Canadian Children's Book News 42.2 (2019): 35-36.
Jones, William P. "LAWCHA and the Gender Policy Report." Labor: Studies in Working-Class History of the Americas 16.4 (2019): 9-10.
López, Amanda M. "City on Fire: Technology, Social Change, and the Hazards of Progress in Mexico City, 1860–1910. By Anna Rose Alexander." (2018): 872-874.
Martinez, Isabella Bello. "The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: The Reaction and Reform."
Paolucci, Paul B. "Celebrating Orgies, Blood, and Fire." Acquiring Modernity. Brill, 2019. 186-193.
Pearcy, Mark. "Great Disasters": A Lesson on the Role of Government in Disaster Relief and Reform." Ohio Social Studies Review 55.1 (2019): 6967.
Rogers, Donald W. "Clearing the Air: The Rise and Fall of Smoking in the Workplace by Gregory Wood." (2018): 145-147.
Todd, Ellen Wiley. "Photojournalism, Visual Culture, and the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire." Labor: Studies in Working-Class History of the Americas 2.2 (2005): 9
Uchitelle, Louis. "Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor: by Steven Greenhouse (Knopf, 2019)." (2019): 453-456.
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