Triangle+Fire+that+Changed+America

=Spring 2012 Book Study=

To view the PBS American Experience video regarding the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, visit this wiki page.



SPRING 2012 BOOK STUDY ASSIGNMENT: __Triangle: The Fire that Changed America__. This Spring’s Book Study, David Von Drehle’s Triangle: The Fire that Changed America, will examine a catastrophic event that served in many ways as a turning point in American history—the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire in New York City in 1911. The Triangle Book Study will be offered ONCE this Spring. Participants must attend the Thursday, May 31 Book Study session, which will be held at the East Tennessee History Center from 5-7 p.m.

There are 6 hrs. available (4 hrs. reading on your own time & brief book summary [see below] & 2 hrs. Book Study session) on the Professional Development Plan (PDP) for those who read and participate in the book study session. Remember that you will be paid 22.00/hour for your first 16 hours of personal professional development time for your PDP (the 24 hours of school-day mini-institutes bring you to the year’s goal of 40 hours). The six hours for the book study session will qualify for the hourly stipend since they are on your own time. Please note that a travel stipend will not be paid in lieu of the hourly stipend.

Book Summary Assignment: 600-750 words [double-spaced with standard font, text, and 1-inch margins works out to somewhere between a page and half to a little over 2 pages]. In your summary, please address EACH of the following questions:

1. Who were the victims of this tragedy? [Not asking for specific names, but rather what did the victims share in common with one another?] 2. Why did this tragedy elicit such a strong public reaction? Briefly describe the public’s reaction. 3. Did anything change as a result of the fire and its aftermath? [Take a position and defend it!!!]

At the conclusion of your Book Summary Assignment, briefly address the following question:

Whether you teach this era or not, does the story told in this book change or affirm your understanding of this historical period—Industrial United States/Gilded Age/Progressivism/Immigration? How so?

Book Summary Assignment Due: //Please e-mail me your assignment as an attachment to// __**hardy@easttnhistory.org**__

Book Summary Assignment Due: May 30

As you read Triangle, please keep in mind the following points that will be useful to the discussion: 1. What are the central goals or themes of the book? 2. Describe the sources that the author used to write the book. 3. Whose voice(s) are being heard through these sources? 4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of narrative history? 5. Where did the book succeed? Where did it fail? 6.Were you previously aware—either from prior knowledge or textbook—of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and the consequences/reforms that resulted in the aftermath of the fire? If so, how is the story told in this book similar to or different from what you knew or what is presented in the history textbook that your students use?

Questions??? Contact William E. Hardy, TAH Academic Coordinator, hardy@easttnhistory.org, 865.215.8875

A paper version of the above information can be found here:

For an accompanying Teacher Guide to the PBS American Experience video, The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, view here:

For a well-written and brief history of the devastating Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, while examining important aspects of early twentieth-century industrialization, immigration, labor history, and women's history in both historical context and through a series of carefully selected primary source documents, view Jo Ann E. Argersinger's, //The Triangle Fire: A Brief History with Documents// (2009) here:

In the 2011-2012 National History Day competition season, **Sevier County High School freshmen, Rebecca Derby and Rachel Emond**, have created a prize-winning Senior Group Exhibit on the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Their project, entitled "Ignition of a Revolution," won 1st Place at the East Tennessee History Day district contest (University of Tennessee, Knoxville) and 2nd Place at the Tennessee History Day state contest (Legislative Plaza, Nashville). They are among 63 Tennessee students (34 of which are from East Tennessee) that will be representing the Volunteer state at this year's National History Day contest held at the University of Maryland (College Park) June 10-14, 2012.

**To view images of Rebecca and Rachel's project, please see the Flickr slideshow below.**
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