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Argumenative claim
Child labor was once seen as normal, but activists worked to change that by showing how it hurt kids. They convinced people that child labor was not right, and laws were made to help protect children from dangerous work. Today, most people agree that child labor is not okay. This is an important reminder that we can make changes to create a better world by standing up for what is right. -
Causes part 1
Child labor has been used for a long time and there are many reasons for it. Some of the reasons why child labor was used include the belief that kids were cheap workers the need to keep kids busy and the differences between kids from rich and poor families. -
Causes part 2(1)
One reason why people used child labor was that they thought it was a cheap way to get work done. As Alexander Hamilton Secretary of the Treasury said in a report on manufacturing "children 'who would otherwise be idle' could become a source of cheap labor." This was especially true during the Industrial Revolution, when machines made it easier for kids to do some jobs that adults used to do. -
Causes part 3(2)
An Englishman stated with regret that "a quarter of the mass of mankind are children, males and females under seven years old, from whom little labor is to be expected." This statement was consistent with the Puritan belief that put work at the center of a moral life. -
Causes part 4(2)
As one well-to-do father explained in 1904, "We work for our children, plan for them, spend money on them, buy life insurance for their protection, and some of us even save money for them." At the lower end of the income scale though, families were forced to use their children for their labor without the luxury of saving for their futures. -
Causes part 4
Finally there were big differences between kids from rich and poor families. Rich families didn't need their kids to work because they had enough money to support them. Poor families didnt have much money and they needed their kids to work to help support the family. -
Causes part 3
Another reason for child labor was that people wanted to keep kids busy and out of trouble. Some people believed that if kids didn't work they would become lazy and useless. To prevent this from happening, factory owners and other people who needed workers started hiring kids. They thought that if kids were busy working they would be less likely to get into trouble. -
Charaecteristics
The Industrial Revolution marked a significant period in history, characterized by rapid industrialization and the emergence of factories, mines, and mills. child labor became a growing and distressing reality. This part of the timline examines the working conditions endured by child laborers during the Industrial Revolution, drawing from primary sources and historical accounts. -
Charaecteristics part 3(2)
The children received little to no compensation for their labor, often struggling to support their families under dire economic circumstances. -
Charaecteristics part 1
- Long working hours and minimal rest: Child laborers faced grueling schedules, toiling for extended periods each day. According to a firsthand account, "A child with a factory job might work 12 to 18 hours a day, 6 days a week, to earn a dollar" (Source 1). This demanding workload left them with little time for rest, play, or education.
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Charaecteristics part 2
- Hazardous and unhealthy environments: The working conditions in factories, mines, and mills were characterized by harsh and dangerous environments. These places were often described as damp, dark, dirty, and unhealthful. In some cases, children were forced to work underground in coal mines, facing the constant threat of accidents and injuries. Tragically, one testimony revealed an incident where a child's hair became entangled in a machine, resulting in a severe injury (Source 3).
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Charaecteristics part 3
- Low wages and exploitation: Child laborers were subject to exploitation by factory owners and industrialists. Children were preferred as employees due to their perceived controlability, lower cost, and reduced likelihood of participating in strikes. As highlighted in a historical account, "These child laborers were the sons and daughters of poor parents or recent immigrants who depended on their children's meager wages to survive" (Source 4).
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Charaecteristics part 5
Acceptance of child labor and limited legal protection:
Child labor, although it was really bad, was widely accepted during the Industrial Revolution. Many families relied on the meager wages earned by their children to survive. The legal system acknowledged the value of child labor, as evidenced by court rulings that calculated damages based on a child's potential earnings. -
Charaecteristics part 5(2)
Courts considered "the probable value of the services of the deceased from the time of his death to the time he would have attained his majority" (Source 5). This approach further underscored the perception that children's labor was a valuable resource. -
Charaecteristics part 4
Lack of education and social deprivation:
The harsh realities of child labor left little room for education or the enjoyment of a normal childhood. The demanding working hours and exhausting conditions deprived these young workers of the opportunity to attend school or engage in recreational activities. As one source stated, "The working children had no time to play or go to school, and little time to rest. They often became ill" (Source 1). -
Changes part 3(2)
This act mandated employers to pay child laborers minimum wage and set the minimum working age at 16, or 18 for hazardous occupations. The FLSA marked a milestone in the fight against child labor, introducing comprehensive standards that protected children in the workforce. -
changes(2)
The passage explains how New England Puritanism, emphasizing both a strong work ethic and religious salvation through biblical understanding, emphasized the importance of education. Similarly, secularists valued education as fundamental to achieving an educated citizenry and democracy. This shift in focus from education to working conditions illustrates the growing recognition of the harsh realities faced by child laborers. -
changes part 2
Tragedies and Public Outcry Numerous industrial accidents and tragedies involving child labor played a crucial role in raising public awareness and generating a strong outcry against the practice. The passage referencing the fire at the Granite Mill in Fall River, MA, in 1874, exemplifies such incidents (BLS). The tragic deaths of young girls, some as young as five, brought the issue to national attention. -
Changes part 2(2)
While some editorials advocated for improved fire safety measures, a Massachusetts resident went further, calling for the removal of children from mills altogether. These tragedies and public discussions contributed to a growing sentiment against the exploitation of child laborers. -
changes
Shift in Focus from Education to Working Conditions During the early stages of the child labor reform movement concerns about the lack of education received by working children drove the push for change. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the movement initially aimed to address the educational shortcomings of toiling children (BLS). -
changes part 3
Legislative Efforts and the Fair Labor Standards Act Over time, legislative efforts were made to regulate and eventually eliminate child labor. As highlighted in the passage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, several state laws were passed, and attempts were made at the national level through congressional acts (BLS). However, it was not until 1938 that the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) succeeded in establishing significant child labor legislation.