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The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
During America's Progressive Era, dating 1890 through 1920, the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire impacted public awareness of national working conditions greatly, when it claimed the lives of 146 common garment laborers. Triangle Shirtwaist Company was located on the top three floors of a ten story building in Manhattan, New York City. It's factory employed 500 garment laborers, primarily young Italian and Jewish women; most of whom brought home a meager three dollars a week. On March 25th, 1911, flames began to engulf the building. While the workers panicked to find an escape, they discovered that the stairwell doors were locked. Later it was known the owner did so in order to prevent stealing and unauthorized breaks. As well as being physically trapped in the factory, firemen were unable to reach the top floors of the building, leaving the workers with no chance of survival. Due to the desperate nature of the situation some 46 workers jumped from the top of the building to their deaths. After the fire was under control an additional 100 bodies were recovered inside the building.