Child Labor During The Industrial Revolution

1323 Words6 Pages
Child labor is an on going issue that countries and nations have struggled with for decades. During the industrial revolution, however, this heart wrenching reality was at its worst as industry workers aimed to meet the demands of their consumers. Britain, France, Germany and the United States shifted from adults making products by hand either in their homes or in small factories with basic machines and tools to dragging children into mass production industries. It’s the simple yet horrific thought process that brought this idea to a very revenant reality. What’s better than an efficient, easy to control and inexpensive worker who cost no more than a penny per hour? Young Orphans who lived in cities were what industries were looking to…show more content…
However, the objective was not to abuse these children or confiscate their childhoods. The early 19th century was all about gaining profits and establishing a successful economy. The most logical and effective way to achieve this, was to employ children. During the industrial revolution, child labor is what drove the future success of mass production industries forever resulting in oppressive behavior towards many and strong responses by few. The key to a successful and well established economy all comes down to money and what industries pay their workers. Orphans working in factories were making no more than fraction of what adults made. Even worse, some were even paid nothing. An eight year old boy describes the payment policy, “They [boys of eight years old] used to get 3d [3 is the abbreviation of pence] or 4d. Now a man's wage is divided into eighths; at eleven, two eights, at thirteen, three eighths, at fifteen, four eighths, at twenty, a man’s wages about 15s [shillings].” Furman Owens, another factory worker who’s just twelve years old “can’t read” and “doesn’t know his A, B, C’s.” He says, “yes, I want to learn but can’t when I work…show more content…
It helped the economy, saved companies money, and was generally thought of as a revolutionary during the industrial revolution. Others, however, felt compelled to disrupt this practice. Grace Abbott, Jane Adams, and Lewis W. Hine all undertook the challenge of putting an end to child labor. Grace Abbott, famous for her “social activism”, started the children's Bureau and advocated on "behalf of young children." Her idea to start the children's Bireau formulated in the U.S. However, Grace Abbott took her idea to a new level by moving to Washington D.C in 1917 where she further persuaded her movement. There, the Children's bureau was made public and she worked to enforce deferral law working to “prohibit interstate commerce of goods created by child labor." The U.S. Surpreme court also acknowledged the obstacles concerning child welfare. Only one year later, the U.S. Supreme Court overthrew this legislation but although Grace Abbotts regulation was demolished, another champaign was stated in 1921 where she yet again, worked hard to tackle child labor. Grace Abbott was seemingly confronted with countless hardships and obstacles throughout her act. Although the U.S. Supreme Court abolished her legislation, it was, at least brought to their attention for further discussion. Jane addams, founder of Hull House toured Toynbee Hall in London, England during the industrial revolution. Subsequent to her tour of
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