• Unsafe working conditions, culminating in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire leading to workplace reform
• The rise of gangsters from prohibition and their hold over the immigrant population
• Mass production of steel and the massive steel factories (Pittsburgh) – easier access to steel leads to mass production of automobiles and high rises
I particularly enjoyed the above segments. I had to do some projects on the Triangle Fire and had a class on organized crime so these were particularly interesting to me. I also think that they did a very good job of recreating the Fire and I found it all the more poignant seeing it on film rather than just reading about it.
This episode really featured the boom period in American history. All of the great developments in the country and all of the landmarks that are still standing today that represent this country (the Statue of Liberty, the Hollywood sign). This is a great lead in for the new episode (that is airing as I type this) which is all about the Great Depression – a great juxtaposition.
A couple of interesting tidbits from this episode:
• Al Capone made about $100/minute from the sale of illegal alcohol and gambling
• It took 25 years for the Statue of Liberty to oxidize and turn the green it is today
• The Hollywood sign was originally Hollywoodland and was an advertisement for a housing development
• An actress committed suicide by jumping off of the H of the Hollywood sign – on my birthday (not the same year, many years before I was born)
Copyright © 2010 by The Maiden’s Court
I enjoyed this one, too. The opening with the building of the Statue of Liberty gave me chills.
ReplyDeleteHowever, like the rest of the episodes, I was disappointed by them leaving out one thing. For this one it was the suffrage movement and women getting the vote. They had been good about women's history thus far, but I am kind of shocked that they didn't even mention Susan B. Anthony anywhere.
As I said in another post, this has been History Lite. It just skims the surface and doesn't cover nearly enough. It would be good as a supplement to a history class. Use it to outline the next chapter for the student to study. There is just too much information that has been left out.
ReplyDeleteChristy - thanks for pointing out about the woman's suffrage movement - that is pretty important for them to have missed. I can't believe I missed that too!
ReplyDeleteLibrary Pat - I think that this would be a good wrap up movie to show in class after they went over a time period - at least showing the highlights. But its not great for learning all about our history.