1920s Child Labor Essay

Therefore, some people worked to change that. Child labor was a fatal thing in the 1800 & 1900’s, and people worked to let children go to school instead of work. First, the children worked in horrible conditions. There were very hot temperatures and the children could pass out. Factories were really hot because of machines and closed windows (Doc. 4.

The use of children sped up production and made the pool of employees much larger. The benefit of child labor for the workers being able to have more people in the factory. The disadvantage was the fact that children are young and should be spending their time learning and playing opposed to operating machines for 16 hours and never attending school (Document 1). Some communities made child labor an option and enforced education at the same time. These communities were known as working societies. They focused on making nice conditions for children that worked. They took good care of kids and paid them in exchange for work. Safety was a big concern so death rates were very low (Document 5). However, not all companies treated their kids well. Some factories abused child labor, allowing kids as young as three years old to help out (Document 9). Politicians are managers claimed that the kids were just fine and even benefited from working. “I have visited many factories, and I never saw a single instance of corporal chastisement inflicted on a child. They seemed to be always cheerful and alert” (Document 4). Child labor was a debatable topic during the Industrial Revolution because many people depended on it but many other people wanted it to stop because it was

Child Labor has always been an issue in the United States. The problem today however is not near as bad as it use to be. By 1900, there were 1-2 million children working various jobs across the states. These children primarily worked in factories, fields, mines, seafood plants, and as newsies boys. Employers believed they could benefit from the children

By 1900, 18% of all American workers were under 16, and more than 1.5 million children between 10 and 15 (20% of all 10 to 15 year-olds in the country) were employed. This increase in child labor was good for the factory managers, who could pay them less and found them less likely to complain or strike. However, they angered

Child labor was used in many factories and industries because some families needed more money. This shows how some families depend on their children and parents going to work to help them make a better standard of living during the Great Depression. In the article “Child Labor” it states, “Employment of children was banned during the Great Depression (1929–39) due not only to moral outrage but also to declining demand for child labor.” This states how child labor was very frowned upon by other citizens, but was needed for other families to survive during the hardships of the Great Depression. Labor was very hard for workers because they would have to work long hours for little pay. There was an act created called the “Fair Labors Standards Act”. This act allowed a 40 cent per hour pay by 1945 and banned child labor in all businesses. This act helped workers get more rights from

“The demand for labor grew, and in the late 19th and early 20th centuries many children were drawn into the labor force. Factory wages were so low that children often had to work to help support their families. However, child laborers rarely experienced their youth” (National Archives). Child labor was a “normal” thing to many people

One problem in the 1900s was child labor, which was not an uncommon sight in the factories. The children who worked at these factories would be exposed to harsh chemicals and could possibly lose and arm or limb to the machineries. Children as young as 16 years old would work in those unsafe, overcrowded factories instead of going to school to receive an education. To resolve the child labor issue, many states begun passing laws that made child labor illegal. As shown in the illustration in document 7, the state of Georgia passed the Georgia Child Labor laws, which took children out of Georgia Factories and into schools for education (document 7). Also shown in document 2, in

Immigrants were also drawn to factories assured they would obtain employment. A type of labor that experienced a massive rise during this time was child labor. Parents liked child labor since it brought a source of income to a poor home. Law played an important role since child labor was legal until the 1930’s. During the nineteenth century the size of children, the ability to manage and control them, as well as paying them less contributed to the widespread use of children laborers.

Child Labor During The Progressive Era Before the extensive reforms in child labor during the Progressive Era, a substantial number of children were working with long hours and meager salaries, especially after the industrialization of factories. Due to the fact that business owners found many benefits in hiring children rather than adults, such as their smaller sizes and lower salary requirements, child labor was extremely widespread. The census of 1890 disclosed the fact that more than a million children, who ranged from the ages of 10-15, endured child labor. Children experienced many ailments such as heavy coal dust from working with coal and fumes from glasswork. Child Labor

Child labor was a big deal and parents have to worry about their child not starving. The food use to be sitting out. If you would it; you would most likely become sick. The kids didn’t get any free time because they were working Child labor law was passed so that only a limited age can work. They would also low pay them for working. In the article (A History Of Child Labor) it states “In the United States it took many years to outlaw child labor. By 1899, 28 states had passed laws regulating child labor. Many efforts were made to pass national child labor law. The U.S. Congress passed two laws, in 1918 and 1922, but the supreme Court declared both unconstitutional. In 1924, Congress proposed a constitutional amendment prohibiting child labor, but the states did not ratify it.” Children coming home late is a problems because the crimes in the city.

Throughout history, children have always worked, either as apprentices or servants. However, child labor reached a whole new scale during the time period of the Industrial Revolution. Throughout the time frame of late 1800s-early 1900s, children worked long hours in dangerous factory conditions for very little wages. They were considered useful as laborers because their small stature allowed them to be cramped into smaller spaces, and they could be paid less for their services. Many worked to help support their families, and by doing so, they forwent their education. Numerous nineteenth century reformers and labor groups sought to restrict child labor and to improve working conditions.

The use of child labor became so bad that by 1900, 18% of all American workers were under the age of 16. (History Channel) Most of this workforce were children of poor families, making it almost impossible for the child to leave their job. Their pay and compensation was only despite working 12 hour days, 6 days a week. (Social Welfare)

This issue was exacerbated due to defective equipment, poor working conditions, ridiculous hours, and scarce remunerations for the employees. When the labor unions started demanding higher wages for workers, the American people became more prosperous and thus, ended the need for child labor. Also laws were passed in the United States, officially prohibiting the practice of child labor, all thanks to labor unions such as The Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor (AFL). If it weren’t for the heroic union members, American work places would likely still be unsanitary and unsafe, because the employers didn't care for the safety of the employees. Labor unions were big advocates of bettering the environment in the workplace.

Everyone can agree life has it’s wonderful and egregious moments. Some people have a grand life with insufficient negativity. Others people have a miserable life and non imposing. In the late 1800’s and beginning to mid 1900’s, child labor caused several children to have an inimical life rather than a preeminent life. When people read what these children had gone through, they fail to remember to put themselves in the children’s situation; therefore, they don’t understand, nor cease how horrendous life was for the children. Numerous factual documents state how deplorable life was for the children during this era. Furthermore, these documents include the Union-made Cigars, Finding of the Commission, the Law of 1913, the letter from WPA Teacher Union to Governor Lehman, and lastly a telegram from Mrs. of Nassau County to Governor Lehman. Schools today teach this time period to the students and share innumerable certainties of the children’s lives. Ultimately, children in this life span had an atrocious duration.

(Laslett, 1970) Coupled with these innovations was the new concept of applying scientific methodology to industrial processes. (Laslett, 1970) All of these changes, while beneficial to businesses, did little to improve the lot of the industrial laborer. (Laslett, 1970) One of the key complaints of an entirely unregulated labor force in the late 1800s was the extensive use and abuse of child labor. In 1870, nearly three quarters of a million children between the ages of ten and fifteen worked in hazardous aspects of manufacturing, agriculture and street trade. (Laslett, 1970) By 1880, that number was over one point one million, or one in every six children in that age group. (Laslett, 1970) By 1900, that number doubled. The conditions under which children worked were very dangerous. They worked the same shifts as adults (about 12 hours a day, six days a week), denying them the opportunity for school and play. (Laslett, 1970) The factories, mills, mines and other work venues in which they labored were unsafe and unregulated. Children were also often used in the most dangerous aspects of industrial work, such as clearing jammed machines or working in confined spaces too small for adults. (Laslett, 1970) In 1881, only seven states had any kind of regulation laws for child laborer. Desperate for money to survive, immigrants and working-class Americans forged