Paired Texts > The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

by Mike Kubic 2016

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

Shoe Factory Horror
Shoe Factory Horror
The Taney County Republican

The newspaper article "Shoe Factory Horror," printed in The Taney County Republican, discusses the chaos caused by a boiler explosion at the R. B. Grover & Cc. shoe factory.

Pair “Shoe Factory Horror” with “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire” and ask students to compare these two industrial disasters. How did both incidents impact the public’s perception of working conditions in America?

9th Grade News 1070L
The Rush of Immigrants
The Rush of Immigrants
USHistory.org

This informational text describes the tide of new immigrants to the United States from southern and eastern Europe and Asia from the mid-1800s to the 1920s, detailing the struggle they faced due to cultural differences and racism.

Pair “The Rush of Immigrants” with “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire” and ask students to discuss immigrants’ experiences in America in the early 1900’s. How do the two texts depict Americans’ reactions to the influx of immigrants?

9th Grade Informational Text 1060L
Californian Neglected its Duty
Californian Neglected its Duty
El Paso Herald

In the article "Californian Neglected its Duty," the El Paso Herald discusses the sinking of the Titanic and why there were so few survivors.

Pair “Californian Neglected its Duty” with “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire” and ask students to discuss the causes that led to each of these tragedies. What were the consequences of these tragedies. How and why does tragedy often lead to improvements in policy?

10th Grade News 1270L
Reports from the Ruins of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906
Reports from the Ruins of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906
Various Authors

Two newspaper articles discuss the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. One, written amidst the flames of the city on fire, is full of despair, while the other, written a few days later, is full of hope.

Pair “Reports from the Ruins of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906” with “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire” and ask students to compare the two disasters that happened 5 years apart. Compare the first-hand accounts of each of the fires and ask students to analyze the tone in each of the articles. How does the cause of the fires in each of the article impact people’s reactions to the tragedy?

9th Grade Primary Source Document 1150L
Have we forgotten the true meaning of Labor Day?
Have we forgotten the true meaning of Labor Day?
Jay L. Zagorsky

In this informational text, Jay L. Zagorsky discusses the origins of Labor Day and its importance.

Pair “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire” with “Have we forgotten the true meaning of Labor Day?” to provide students with an example of unfair working conditions that labor unions fought to change. What were some of the poor working conditions that led to this tragedy? What conditions were reformers already trying to change? Should the work of these reformers be honored on Labor Day? Why or why not?

8th Grade Informational Text 1200L
El incendio de la fábrica Triangle Shirtwaist
El incendio de la fábrica Triangle Shirtwaist
Mike Kubic

This text is available in both English and Spanish. Click here to view this text in the other language.

9th Grade Informational Text 1280L
The Real Cost of Cheap Fashion
The Real Cost of Cheap Fashion
Laura Anastasia

In "The Real Cost of Cheap Fashion," Laura Anastasia discusses the downsides of the "fast fashion" industry today.

Pair “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire” with “The Real Cost of Cheap Fashion” to provide students with information about a tragedy that occured because of poor working conditions. Ask students to discuss what contributed to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory tragedy. Why were so many people killed or injured? What could have been done to prevent this? In both texts, change comes after a great tragedy. Why do you think companies wait for the worst to happen before making necessary changes to protect workers?

10th Grade Informational Text 1070L
Excerpt from "The Harvest Gypsies"
Excerpt from "The Harvest Gypsies"
John Steinbeck

In this excerpt from John Steinbeck's article The Harvest Gypsies, Steinbeck discusses the experiences of migrant workers in America, specifically California.

Pair “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire” with “Excerpt from 'The Harvest Gypsies'” and ask students to compare the working conditions described in the two texts. Why were immigrant workers exposed to more dangerous work conditions for low pay? How do both texts explore the obstacles that immigrant workers faced?

10th Grade Essay 1260L