On March 25, 1911, 143 workers, mostly young female immigrants, died in a factory fire in New York City on the corner of Green and Washington Streets. Most victims were from Brooklyn, could barely speak English, and were the main financial support for their hard working family.

You have been chosen to participate in the investigation of the fire.

Your Objective:  Analyze evidence of an industrial fire and determine the cause and who, if anyone, is responsible.

Instructions:

1.  Read testimony of as many people involved in the incident as possible. Record your findings in your graphic organizer.

2. Analyze crime scene photos to help you in your investigation.

3. Determine the cause of the fire, who, if anyone was to blame for the workers’ deaths, and propose new laws prevent such a disaster from occurring again .

Click the links below to start analyzing the evidence.