Child Labor
Introduction –
Child labor impacted America in a bad way. It started in America around the same time as the Industrial Revolution, which was around the 1800’s. The children, who had to do labor, got little to no education, so therefore couldn’t get descent jobs as an adult. Most of the jobs that children got, such as mines and factories, included being in dangerous situations, where with factories they were around dangerous machinery and with mining jobs, they were around explosives. It also ruined their childhoods because the jobs, the children got mostly included long hours with low pay, and they couldn’t do want they wanted. Child labor is very close to slavery whereas most children were forced to do the work because their parents made them. It is very important to know what the children were put through.
Child labor impacted America in a bad way. It started in America around the same time as the Industrial Revolution, which was around the 1800’s. The children, who had to do labor, got little to no education, so therefore couldn’t get descent jobs as an adult. Most of the jobs that children got, such as mines and factories, included being in dangerous situations, where with factories they were around dangerous machinery and with mining jobs, they were around explosives. It also ruined their childhoods because the jobs, the children got mostly included long hours with low pay, and they couldn’t do want they wanted. Child labor is very close to slavery whereas most children were forced to do the work because their parents made them. It is very important to know what the children were put through.
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What is child labor? –
Child labor is where someone hires children that are under a legal age for dangerous jobs. The average legal age in most countries is between fourteen and sixteen years old. Children are usually hired for jobs such as mines, factories, fields, and enterprise. One reason that child labor is bad is because, in several cases, the children are being forced to work by their parents, and not because they want to. In some countries in the Middle East child labor makes up 10% of the labor force. 2% - 10% in most of Latin America’s labor force is made up of child labor.
Child labor is where someone hires children that are under a legal age for dangerous jobs. The average legal age in most countries is between fourteen and sixteen years old. Children are usually hired for jobs such as mines, factories, fields, and enterprise. One reason that child labor is bad is because, in several cases, the children are being forced to work by their parents, and not because they want to. In some countries in the Middle East child labor makes up 10% of the labor force. 2% - 10% in most of Latin America’s labor force is made up of child labor.
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How did child labor start in America? –
Child labor started in America when the Industrial Revolution began in the 1800’s. The Industrial Revolution lasted around the 18th to the 19th century and started in Britain, then afterward spread to Western Europe, North American, Japan, then eventually the world. It was the major changes in agriculture, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology. The revolution had a deep impact on the ecomonic, cultural, and social happenings of the time. Because of the major increase in factories, farmers got less pay, so they moved to London (where there were many factories) to get better pay. Many farms used child labor, and there were some people would have more children so they (the children) could work on the farm. It was a big turning point in human history. Because of the Industrial Revolution, there was more factories, and mines. They needed more workers, and with some jobs they need smaller hands, so they hired children. Children were also small and quick.
Child labor started in America when the Industrial Revolution began in the 1800’s. The Industrial Revolution lasted around the 18th to the 19th century and started in Britain, then afterward spread to Western Europe, North American, Japan, then eventually the world. It was the major changes in agriculture, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology. The revolution had a deep impact on the ecomonic, cultural, and social happenings of the time. Because of the major increase in factories, farmers got less pay, so they moved to London (where there were many factories) to get better pay. Many farms used child labor, and there were some people would have more children so they (the children) could work on the farm. It was a big turning point in human history. Because of the Industrial Revolution, there was more factories, and mines. They needed more workers, and with some jobs they need smaller hands, so they hired children. Children were also small and quick.
What kind of life did the children who were affected by child labor have? –
They had a really boring one. The children mostly worked all day then came home to sleep. Children that worked in factories could have been as young as 4-5 years old. The main reason most children worked was because their parents were poor and needed money, or their parents were unable to support them, so they didn’t have a nice house to come home to and some didn’t have a home. The homes that most of the children lived in were very small and poorly made. The reason for this was because a lot of people worked in the factories, so there was many other people living around the
factory (or for any other job) and they had to build building quickly, small and very close together for the people moving close to their job. Most of the factory workers were children, and they often got low pay and were treated badly by the supervisors. They also got very little to no education, so most of them couldn’t read or write, and because of that they didn’t have very good jobs when they grew older. But that changed for some children when in 1836 Massachusetts, which was the first state to make this law, made a law that said children must go to school for at least three months a year.
They had a really boring one. The children mostly worked all day then came home to sleep. Children that worked in factories could have been as young as 4-5 years old. The main reason most children worked was because their parents were poor and needed money, or their parents were unable to support them, so they didn’t have a nice house to come home to and some didn’t have a home. The homes that most of the children lived in were very small and poorly made. The reason for this was because a lot of people worked in the factories, so there was many other people living around the
factory (or for any other job) and they had to build building quickly, small and very close together for the people moving close to their job. Most of the factory workers were children, and they often got low pay and were treated badly by the supervisors. They also got very little to no education, so most of them couldn’t read or write, and because of that they didn’t have very good jobs when they grew older. But that changed for some children when in 1836 Massachusetts, which was the first state to make this law, made a law that said children must go to school for at least three months a year.
Children working in Coal Mines -
Coal mines are very dangerous, especially for chilren. There were few safety rules, there were many times where the roof caved in, and the chilren were around explosives. Because of this, many employees (including children) were badly injured, or killed.
Most of the smaller children worked as "trappers." The trappers work with the trap doors. They sit in a hole that in the ground, and held a string which was connected to a door. When they heard a coal wagon, they would pull the string which would open the door. so the coal wagons could come in. Where the children sat was often dirty and damp. This was a very lonely job, but it was the easiest job. The older children worked as coal bearers, which is where they would carry coal that was in baskets on their shoulders. The jobs the workers did are now done by machines.
Coal mines are very dangerous, especially for chilren. There were few safety rules, there were many times where the roof caved in, and the chilren were around explosives. Because of this, many employees (including children) were badly injured, or killed.
Most of the smaller children worked as "trappers." The trappers work with the trap doors. They sit in a hole that in the ground, and held a string which was connected to a door. When they heard a coal wagon, they would pull the string which would open the door. so the coal wagons could come in. Where the children sat was often dirty and damp. This was a very lonely job, but it was the easiest job. The older children worked as coal bearers, which is where they would carry coal that was in baskets on their shoulders. The jobs the workers did are now done by machines.
Children working in Mills -
At the mills the chilren worked as hard as possible and often lived there. The (children) employees were often times orphans that were taken in by the mill oweners. The majority of their time was working at the machines with little time to do anything else, even sleep. There were some serious accidents that went on in the mills, like when chilren were scalped when their hair got caught in the machines. Some chilren got their hands smushed by the machines, and if a child fell asleep while working the machines, they were often killed when/if they fell into the machines.
At the mills the chilren worked as hard as possible and often lived there. The (children) employees were often times orphans that were taken in by the mill oweners. The majority of their time was working at the machines with little time to do anything else, even sleep. There were some serious accidents that went on in the mills, like when chilren were scalped when their hair got caught in the machines. Some chilren got their hands smushed by the machines, and if a child fell asleep while working the machines, they were often killed when/if they fell into the machines.
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How did child labor end in America?–
On June 25, 1938 the U.S. Congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This law made it so that children under 18 couldn’t work in manufacturing or other dangerous jobs. FLSA also limited the hours a anyone under the age of 16 (the average is 40 hours per week, may vary in different states), and it makes empoyees get paid at least minimun wage (minimum wage varies in different states, but average is $6.00-$9.00). Because of this law, people can't hire children under 16 during school hours. It became America’s first federal law that limited child labor.
On June 25, 1938 the U.S. Congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This law made it so that children under 18 couldn’t work in manufacturing or other dangerous jobs. FLSA also limited the hours a anyone under the age of 16 (the average is 40 hours per week, may vary in different states), and it makes empoyees get paid at least minimun wage (minimum wage varies in different states, but average is $6.00-$9.00). Because of this law, people can't hire children under 16 during school hours. It became America’s first federal law that limited child labor.
Conclusion -
Child labor had a big impact on America during the 1800's - 1900's. The children had to be put in horrible conditions where they were treated badly by the supervisors, and put in dangerous conditions. The children may have needed the little amount of money they earned, but they were put in situations that could take away their life. Though the experience of child labor was horrible, the country learned that they should not use child labor, and that it was wrong. Even though child labor provided services, and was cheap, it stole the education from children who could've made a difference with that education.
Child labor had a big impact on America during the 1800's - 1900's. The children had to be put in horrible conditions where they were treated badly by the supervisors, and put in dangerous conditions. The children may have needed the little amount of money they earned, but they were put in situations that could take away their life. Though the experience of child labor was horrible, the country learned that they should not use child labor, and that it was wrong. Even though child labor provided services, and was cheap, it stole the education from children who could've made a difference with that education.