Topic > Child Labor During the 19th Century

The Industrial Revolution was an era that created many improvements, although these improvements certainly had their downsides. the increase in population led to an increase in business creation which led to an increase in demand. This meant that more people are needed to work. Over 2 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 were employed to work in factories, mills, mines, etc. in all states, differentiating by location. Many were not forced but lived in conditions where school was not an option. It was those who could not support their families who made their children work instead of going to school. These poor children were exposed to dangerous and horrible working conditions. Many died due to overwork and malnutrition. If not death, these children have been destroyed mentally and/or physically. It stunted their growth. Child labor and its conditions have triggered families, progressives and society. Unions were created and reforms were implemented to limit work to children under the age of 14. Progressives saw that children should not waste their lives peeling berries, picking cotton, driving in mines, etc. They sought them to receive education and develop as they should. Factors that led to the child labor movement include the causes and conditions child laborers faced during the 19th century. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Industrialization was a central theme during the 19th century. Manufacturing cities grew rapidly. Where people began to migrate for better job opportunities both within and outside the United States. Experiencing society's great shift from agriculture to machine-based agriculture. The growth of industries, new inventions and the replacement of the old with the new. Daily life had to adapt to the way and speed with which society was changing. Which served as economic growth. America had no restrictions on immigrants, so America was welcoming to migrants. Population growth and redistribution coincided with the expansion of urban economic activity. In which it led to the emergence of competitive industries and improved trade and mercantilism. With the boom in industrial factories, the population of adult workers was no longer sufficient to cover the number of jobs created. The population of employed workers belonged to the working class and their salary could barely provide for their family. As families needed extra money, employers began to hire children, business owners found it cheaper to employ children, paying them a quarter of what they would pay an adult doing the same job. But they needed money. They were hired as unskilled workers. Before anyone could say a word about how immoral it was; there were no laws preventing children from working in factories, so employers took advantage of this. It has been proven that children are effective; they were obedient workers and smaller and suited to places adults couldn't go. The fight to protect the rights of a child worker has lasted about 20 years. Day shifts lasted about eight hours and if they didn't work the day shift, they worked the night shift or even alternated between day and night. Those who work more than 8 hours a day every day tend not to sleep and end up dozing off at work and falling into cars.”