Out of This Furnace and Triangle the Fight for Progressive Reform

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The Progressive Era started in 1880 to 1920. Progressive reform started as a way to clean up politics and for social activism. It also exposes corruption within the government, as well as, political machines along with big business bosses. Many progressive reformers wanted to enforce a law that prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages and close down the saloons the progressive reformers started the fight for prohibition. Many reformers wanted to improve railroad system, education, better working conditions, eight-hour workweeks, remove trusts, a safer work environment, as well as, help with women’s suffrage.
Out of This Furnace and Triangle focused on the struggle of immigrants who tried to better their lives for themselves and the lives of their families. Out of This Furnace is a fictional book by Thomas Bell. Even though the book is fictional, it gave a factual insight of the life of a steel mill and furnace worker during the late 1800s their romantic involvement and the fight for better working and living conditions for themselves, as well as their families. Many of these steel and furnace workers are immigrant men from Europe who came to America in the hope of finding work that everyone can better themselves and their families in the home country.
The Triangle based on the Triangle Waist Company Factory fire that took place on March 21, 1911 in New York City. Unlike Out of This Furnace the Triangle a true story that focus on the work condition of female immigrant workers who worked in a sweat-house in unsafe condition. At the time of the fire, this started on the eighth floor of the building. The owners of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company locked all the exit doors to assure that the worker may not leave or enter the factory ...

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... finding jobs to support their families. However, Triangle only focused on the tragic fire of 1911 in New York, which took the lives of 146 women. There was a push for change after the fire. The International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union or the ILGWU and the socialist party fought for better safety laws, enforce labor laws, and establish better laws the govern the work environment for women and children. Out of This Furnace an untrue story placed focus on the on the actual lives of European male immigrant. These steel mill and furnace workers also worked in a dangerous environment and they fought for better working conditions. Unlike Triangle, Out of This Furnace place focus on the men everyday living including their personal lives. Even though both stories are different in some areas they a quite the same when it comes to being a part of the Progressive Era.

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