Titanic “A Social Disaster” Eric Chronister. Construction of the “Unsinkable” Construction...

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Titanic Titanic A Social Disaster” A Social Disaster” Eric Chronister Eric Chronister

Transcript of Titanic “A Social Disaster” Eric Chronister. Construction of the “Unsinkable” Construction...

TitanicTitanic

““A Social Disaster”A Social Disaster”Eric ChronisterEric Chronister

Construction of the Construction of the “Unsinkable”“Unsinkable” • Construction of the Titanic Construction of the Titanic

began on March 31, 1909 began on March 31, 1909 and it was complete by May and it was complete by May of 1911.of 1911.

• Despite popular belief, the Despite popular belief, the designers of the Titanic designers of the Titanic never claimed the ship was never claimed the ship was unsinkable. Harland and unsinkable. Harland and Wolff, claimed that the Wolff, claimed that the ship’s system of watertight ship’s system of watertight bulkheads “made the vessel bulkheads “made the vessel virtuallyvirtually unsinkable” unsinkable” (Adams, S. pg 12).(Adams, S. pg 12).

“I cannot imagine any condition which would cause a ship to founder. I cannot conceive of any vital disaster happening to this vessel” (Adams, S. pg 13).

-Captain Smith

Titanic: Inside and Titanic: Inside and OutOut

• Capacity: 3,547 passengers and crewCapacity: 3,547 passengers and crew

• Length: 882.75ft.Length: 882.75ft.

• Width: 92.5ft.Width: 92.5ft.

• Height: 175ft.Height: 175ft.

• Gross Tonnage: 21,831 tonsGross Tonnage: 21,831 tons

• Total Horsepower: 51,000 H.P.Total Horsepower: 51,000 H.P.

• Watertight Compartments: 16Watertight Compartments: 16

• Top Speed: 22.5 knotsTop Speed: 22.5 knots

• Lifeboat Capacity: 1,178 people (16 lifeboats + 4 collapsible lifeboats)Lifeboat Capacity: 1,178 people (16 lifeboats + 4 collapsible lifeboats)

Maiden VoyageMaiden Voyage• On April 10, 1912, Titanic set On April 10, 1912, Titanic set

sail from Southampton, UK.sail from Southampton, UK.

• The Titanic sailed to The Titanic sailed to Cherbourg in France and Cherbourg in France and later to Queenstown in later to Queenstown in Ireland to pick up additional Ireland to pick up additional passengers.passengers.

• There were 1320 passengers There were 1320 passengers and 907 crew. and 907 crew.

• Titanic was to arrive in New Titanic was to arrive in New York on April 17. York on April 17.

A Deadly CollisionA Deadly Collision• On the night of April 14, at 11:40pm, On the night of April 14, at 11:40pm,

the Titanic collided with an iceberg the Titanic collided with an iceberg that would lead to the ships demise.that would lead to the ships demise.

• The iceberg brushed against the The iceberg brushed against the ships starboard side, severely ships starboard side, severely damaging the hull and crippling the damaging the hull and crippling the ship.ship.

• All lifeboats had a capacity of 65. All lifeboats had a capacity of 65. Lifeboat 7 was the first lifeboat to be Lifeboat 7 was the first lifeboat to be lowered at 12:45pm with only 8 lowered at 12:45pm with only 8 women, 10 men, and 3 crew women, 10 men, and 3 crew members aboard. members aboard.

The Last MomentsThe Last Moments• The ship was almost The ship was almost

vertical when it snapped vertical when it snapped between the back two between the back two smokestacks.smokestacks.

• At 2:18am the Titanic was At 2:18am the Titanic was completely submerged completely submerged under the Atlantic. under the Atlantic.

• The ship was about 400 The ship was about 400 miles south of Grand miles south of Grand Banks of Newfoundland.Banks of Newfoundland.

• Titanic now rests at a Titanic now rests at a depth of 12,500ft; about depth of 12,500ft; about 1,000 miles east of Boston, 1,000 miles east of Boston, Massachusetts Massachusetts

DemographicDemographicof Passengersof Passengers

People on Board: 2223

•First Class = 325

•Second Class = 285

•Third Class = 706

•Crew = 885

•Survived = 711

•Died = 1490

Titanic as a Social Titanic as a Social DisasterDisaster

• Disaster - a calamitous event, especially Disaster - a calamitous event, especially one occurring suddenly and causing great one occurring suddenly and causing great loss of life, damage, or hardship.loss of life, damage, or hardship.– The Titanic definitely fits the general The Titanic definitely fits the general

description of a disaster.description of a disaster.– This disaster also displays many factors and This disaster also displays many factors and

characteristics that combine to constitute a characteristics that combine to constitute a social disaster.social disaster.• Goal oriented behaviorGoal oriented behavior• Constraints of people involvedConstraints of people involved• Mitigation/Preparation (or lack there of)Mitigation/Preparation (or lack there of)• Evidence of mythsEvidence of myths• Evidence of vulnerable populationsEvidence of vulnerable populations• Integration into popular culture Integration into popular culture

Goal Oriented BehaviorGoal Oriented Behavior• Through behavior studies, it is evident that Through behavior studies, it is evident that

people involved in disasters respond in goal people involved in disasters respond in goal oriented behavior.oriented behavior.

• People tend to engage in a quick restructuring People tend to engage in a quick restructuring in their thinking regarding their situation.in their thinking regarding their situation.

• This concept holds true for the Titanic disaster.This concept holds true for the Titanic disaster.– People began to plan accordingly on how there were going People began to plan accordingly on how there were going

to survive.to survive.– Many tried to board lifeboats; many also acquired and wore Many tried to board lifeboats; many also acquired and wore

lifejackets.lifejackets.– Most people attempted to improve their chances of survival Most people attempted to improve their chances of survival

through any means necessary (goal oriented behavior).through any means necessary (goal oriented behavior).

Constraints of Constraints of People InvolvedPeople Involved

• There were many different populations of people There were many different populations of people on board the Titanic.on board the Titanic.

• Therefore, allowing constraints to be applied to Therefore, allowing constraints to be applied to the different populations; especially when it came the different populations; especially when it came to boarding the lifeboats.to boarding the lifeboats.– Gender constraints Gender constraints

• Women and children boarded before men.Women and children boarded before men.– Socioeconomic Status Socioeconomic Status

• The 1The 1stst and 2 and 2ndnd class passengers boarded before 3 class passengers boarded before 3rdrd class. class.– Location constraints Location constraints

• Passengers located on the lower decks were less likely to Passengers located on the lower decks were less likely to survive, less likely to get to a lifeboat.survive, less likely to get to a lifeboat.

– Responsibility Responsibility • Crew, having responsibilities, were less likely to respond in Crew, having responsibilities, were less likely to respond in

fear/panic.fear/panic.

Mitigation/PreparationMitigation/Preparation(Or lack there of)(Or lack there of)

• Evidence of Mitigation: Availability Evidence of Mitigation: Availability of lifejackets and lifeboats (total of lifejackets and lifeboats (total lifeboat capacity was about ½ of lifeboat capacity was about ½ of the total passengers).the total passengers).

• Preparation: “includes action taken Preparation: “includes action taken before the impact of a hazard” before the impact of a hazard” (Herring, A, Disaster Phases).(Herring, A, Disaster Phases).– Passengers did not know of the Passengers did not know of the

impending disaster, therefore never impending disaster, therefore never had time to prepare.had time to prepare.

– Passengers could only react to the Passengers could only react to the impending disaster, not prepare.impending disaster, not prepare.

Evidence of MythsEvidence of Myths• Panic – This myth was just that, a Panic – This myth was just that, a

myth. Until the very last minutes and myth. Until the very last minutes and seconds of the ship sinking, people did seconds of the ship sinking, people did not panic.not panic.– People began to calmly gather on deck and People began to calmly gather on deck and

gravitate towards the life boats.gravitate towards the life boats.– People followed the lead and directions of People followed the lead and directions of

crew members since most passengers did crew members since most passengers did not know of the impending fait of the ship.not know of the impending fait of the ship.

– When people got word of the ship sinking, When people got word of the ship sinking, panic did not ensue. People’s urgency panic did not ensue. People’s urgency simply multiplied but panic was not evident simply multiplied but panic was not evident until all survival options were gone.until all survival options were gone.

• Evacuation Behavior – Many people Evacuation Behavior – Many people were reluctant to leave their cabins’. were reluctant to leave their cabins’. Unlike the myth that states people will Unlike the myth that states people will evacuate to safety, in this case a evacuate to safety, in this case a lifeboat.lifeboat.

Evidence of Vulnerable Evidence of Vulnerable PopulationsPopulations

• Vulnerable Population during Titanic Vulnerable Population during Titanic disaster:disaster:– ElderlyElderly– ChildrenChildren– MenMen– 33rdrd Class Passengers Class Passengers

• The men and 3The men and 3rdrd class passenger populations were vulnerable class passenger populations were vulnerable during the titanic disaster because of the guidelines set as to during the titanic disaster because of the guidelines set as to who was aloud to board the lifeboats. They were last to board, who was aloud to board the lifeboats. They were last to board, if there was any room.if there was any room.

• The elderly and child populations were vulnerable due to the The elderly and child populations were vulnerable due to the weather conditions. It was a clear, cold night and the elderly weather conditions. It was a clear, cold night and the elderly and children are most susceptible to cold weather conditions.and children are most susceptible to cold weather conditions.

Integration into Integration into Popular CulturePopular Culture

• In 1997, the movie “Titanic” was In 1997, the movie “Titanic” was released.released.

• It is the second highest grossing It is the second highest grossing movie of all time ($1,843,201,268).movie of all time ($1,843,201,268).

• The movie was an enormous The movie was an enormous success, with it’s accurate portrayal success, with it’s accurate portrayal of events and it’s attractive love duo of events and it’s attractive love duo of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.Winslet.

ConclusionConclusion• The Titanic was the largest The Titanic was the largest

passenger ship of it’s time. passenger ship of it’s time. Equipped with the finest luxuries Equipped with the finest luxuries and deemed ‘virtually unsinkable’. and deemed ‘virtually unsinkable’.

• The Titanic is, without a doubt, a The Titanic is, without a doubt, a social disaster. social disaster.

• The sinking of the Titanic is one of The sinking of the Titanic is one of the largest non-war, maritime the largest non-war, maritime related disasters in history. related disasters in history.

• It still resonates with the general It still resonates with the general population, today, as one of the population, today, as one of the greatest tragedies to ever occur.greatest tragedies to ever occur.