Hazards in Work

Immigrants settled in cities because they could find work in factories. These industrial factories required thousands of laborers, working long hours for a small pay. Immigrants were willing to brave the stuffy, dirty, and dangerous factories for little money for six days of work.

Inadequate fire escapes caused many laborers to die, such as in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. Machines used to manufacture merchandise was very dangerous, and if you were injured on the job, you received no help from your employer. Managers expected employees to take care of themselves on the job. In many factories, workers became sick from the dust or dirt inside the building.

Desperate laborers formed 'labor unions', getting together and going on strike to improve conditions and wages. Unfortunately, most strikes brought little assistance or improvement to conditions. In fact, since so many workers were available, the value of one worker was very low. In some cases, managers hired thugs to beat the strikers into submission.

Indeed, these factories were terrible for work, and yet many poverty-stricken immigrants relied on these factories to stay alive.