Ashley US History: February 2015

1. When did World War I (The Great War) begin, and why? (What was the immediate cause?) Between what two groups of allies was it fought? Give the name and member countries for each of the opposing sides.
-World War I began on July 28, 1914. The immediate cause was the assassination of Franz Ferdinand (the archduke of Austria-Hungary) in 1914. His death at the hands of Gavrilo Princip propelled the major European military powers towards war. World War I began as a local war between Austria-Hungary and Siberia. Shortly, it grew into a war involving 32 countries. Allies included Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and the United States. These countries found against the Central powers which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.

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2. When and why did the US enter the war?
-US entered WWI on April 6, 1917. Joined its allies, Britain, France and Russia to fight. Under command of Major General John J. Pershing more than 2 million soldiers fought on France battlefields. Disagreements in europe over territory came to a head with the assassination of the archduke. Exactly one month later war broke out.

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3. When and why did World War I come to and end?
-The final allied push towards the German boarders began on October 17, 1918. As the British, French, and American armies advanced, the alliance between the Central powers began to collapse. Turkey signed an armistice at the end of October, and Austria-Hungary followed.

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4. What were the terms of the major agreement ending the war? Why did the US not ratify this treaty, even though President Wilson had played such a major role in negotiating it?
-US didnt sign The Treaty of Versailles, because it objected to its terms.
1. Germany had to accept the Blame for starting the war (Clause 231). This was vital because it provided the justification for...

2. Germany had to pay £6,600 million (called Reparations) for the damage done during the war.

3. Germany was forbidden to have submarines or an air force. She could have a navy of only six battleships, and an Army of just 100,000 men. In addition, Germany was not allowed to place any troops in the Rhineland, the strip of land, 50 miles wide, next to France.

4. Germany lost Territory (land) in Europe (see map, below). Germany’s colonies were given to Britain and France.

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5. Come up with a question of your own. What would you like to know? What do the facts about World War I make you wonder?
-What was the total number of deaths at the end of World War I?

Safety in the workplace was not something that people worried about before the birth of industrialization. When hundreds of young women died due to the Triangle Fire, the public began to demand some reforms. A dropped match on the 8^th floor of Triangle Shirtwaist Factory sparked a fire that killed over a hundred people locked inside. Private industry of American factory would never be the same.

The Triangle Waist Company was a factory in the heart of Manhattan, at 23-29 Washington Place, at the Northern corner of Washington Square East. In New York City, on March 25, 1911 a fire broke out in the Triangle Factory and killed 146 workers. Unfortunately many of the women working in the Factory were Italian and European Jewish immigrants coming to the U.S. to find peace. Within 18 minutes of the fire, 146 people were dead. 25 young women threw themselves down elevator shafts trying to escape. The water streams from hoses could not reach the 7^th floor. 19 bodies were found fried against locked doors. 25 bodies were found bundled in the cloakroom. “The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911 would change the regulation by government of business. Before the fire government had mostly stayed away from business feeling it had no power to legislate it (CSUN).” Groups like International Ladies Garment Workers Union and Women’s Trade Union League fought for better working conditions. Innovation changed the way factories were build. Innovation made safer working conditions.

Sweatshops before 1911 were easily described by low wages, long hours, and dangerous working conditions. Max Blanck and Isaac Harris owned the Asch building. Blanck and Harris had a “personal business.” Sadly, factory was in the hands of workers who did not follow through with workers rights and forced unsafe working conditions. They could treat workers however they wanted to without being punished. Owners hired people to pick workers and pocket a portion of the profits. The subcontractors could pay the workers whatever they felt like. A few weeks before the fire, workers had been forgotten in Americas industrial machine. After the fire, communication allowed for a better future interaction between the worker and the boss.

After the fire, workers went to Union quarters to demand Harris and Blanck be brought to trial. “Role that strong unions could have in helping prevent tragedies became clear. Workers organized in Unions would be more aware of their rights and ability to obtain safe working conditions. (Cornell).” Many organizations came together to help families cope. Executive board members of Ladies Waist and Dress Makers union met to plan relief for survivors and families of the fire. The Joint Relief Committee came together with American Red Cross and provided 30, 000 dollars. The fire persuaded people with power to take action against the dangerous practices in the factories.

“If you ask the average American worker, ‘“Is it okay for workers to work in a shop where the conditions are so dangerous that it could cost them their lives and not have government intervene,”’ most people would say ‘“No. There’s a line.’” The Triangle Fire drew that line. It burned that line, really, into the nation’s conscience (Annelise Orleck).” State and federal laws were put in place because of this. Unions gained workers who wanted to fight for their safety. Collaboration that instance combined with a few smaller situations made a big enough statement that something had to be done to protect the workforce.

The Factory Fire killed a ton of people because owners locked their workers in until the day was over. When the fire happened they could not get out. This fire made the world realize that the work force needed safety laws. It put work safety laws in motion that are still used today.

JWA-Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
I found this site the least helpful. I did not use it as much as the other sources. It did not have much information on what I was looking for. Just the Jewish views.

Business Communication- Management Ethics and the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

This source was helpful, yet I did not use it as much as the last three sources. There was to much information compacted into one big paper, that continued to go on and on about the same thing.

CSUN- Leap for Life, Leap of Death

I used CSUN to get an exact number of deaths during the fire. This website provided me with the exact number of bodies found and people that jumped.

PBS- American Experience Triangle Fire Video

This is the most credible site. The video provided me with a visual aspect of it all. This was my favorite because I am a visual learner.

OSHA- Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

This source was also very precise and credible! It separated each aspect of the fire into a different category which made it easier to learn.

Cornell- Remembering The 1911 Triangle Factory Fire
This source provided me with information no other website provided. It talked about the mourning and protest after the fire, relief work, and investigation and trial. This source went above and beyond.