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The author argues that Triangle Shirtwaist tragedy resulted in the development of policy regarding immigrant rights and workplace safety. David Von Drehle’s purpose of writing the book “Triangle: The Fire Changed America” is to highlight the positive implications of Triangle Shirtwaist tragedy. Before this incidents little or no attention was given to the immigrant rights or labor at American organizations. Employees had to work in challenging situations due to lack of workplace safety and adequate protection. It was only after the death of 146 immigrants at Triangle Shirtwaist factory in 1911. The loss of lives convinced the activists Tammy Hall politicians to raise voice for the protection of the lives of workers. Drehle argues that without this incident the labor class would never have gained rights of safe work conditions and environment. The role of politics also changed after this tragic incident. Triangle disaster was the cause of social and political reforms. The author has written the book for analyzing this historical event and related factors that proves the absence of safety standards had threatened the lives of workers.
In the book Drehle has identified many activities that proves the changing dynamics. Society had been involved in the agenda of demanding human rights for the workers with emphasis on safe work conditions. The author mentions, “in August, nearly seven thousand neckwear workers mostly teenaged girls walked out of some two hundred shops. Their month long strike was a desperate, heroic effort” (Drehle 16). This indicates that the media has played significnat role in spreadking the news across country that encourgaed laborer and people to strike for the rights of workers. The event got limelight that it convinced many leaders and factory owners to consider the demands of workers. Many employees left the company in protest for the Triangle incident. It was realized that thee factories lack adequate safety procedures that could protect the lives of the workers. The society had accepted that workers and immigrants are humans and they must be given fundamental rights. The incident also raised awareness among labor community that they must consider the consequences of working in unsafe factories because it could cost them their life. Media reporting played prominent role in revealing the implications of the flawed factory work system. At the author states, “officers examined, described, and tagged each corpse, then placed the bodies in coffins and stacked the boxes on horse-drawn wagons” CITATION Dav031 \l 1033 (Drehle). All these activities were the result of society’s acceptance of labor rights. a larger population including activists had realized the importance of safety measures for protecting the lives of workers CITATION Bet17 \l 1033 (Kepes). The facts proves that the deaths had spread fear and chaos among people that provoked them to stand against the injustices and demand rights for the workers. The leaders claimed policies that defined rule of working and safe work standards for labor.
The author argues that the incident had be devastating because it caused deaths and injuries but it laid foundations for formulating labor protection rights that could ensure safe work conditions. The events and reactions from the public confirm that everyone had become part of this change process. The argument is convincing because the author has used secondary sources including articles, books, news and figures for providing support. The assessment of the news and facts are adequate for proving the validity of the argument. Drehle thus succeeds in his argument that Trinagle fire had been the cause of improving work conditions for the immigrants and labor.
Work Cited
BIBLIOGRAPHY Drehle, David Von. Triangle. Grove Press, 2003.
Kepes, Betsy. Book review: "Triangle, The Fire That Changed America" by David Von Drehle . 2017. 17 11 2019 <https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/17365/20110324/book-review-triangle-the-fire-that-changed-america-by-david-von-drehle>.
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