The Importance of the Shirtwaist Factory Fire in Current Day

After reading articles about the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, I realize the importance that the fire still has on modern day society. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire illustrated the lack of power that the workers had in the workplace. The fire was caused by a cigarette that ignited a pile of clothes lying on the floor, and the death toll was higher, because the exit doors were locked and blocked to prevent labor unions from entering. Today, we have clean working conditions, minimum wage, and social security, which are all social reforms that stemmed from the tragic fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. These social benefits are too often forgotten today, but it took many deaths and horrific scenes, such as the fire, to prove why workers needed cleaner working conditions and other benefits. Overall, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire is still important to us today, because it illustrated how poor the working conditions were, and because it led the movement to improve working conditions, establish minimum wage, and create social security, which we have today.