Child Labor

1
Child Labor
2
Brainstorm prior knowledge
3
Intro facts

• Although children had been servants and
  apprentices throughout most of human history,
  child labor reached new extremes during the
  Industrial Revolution. Children often worked long
  hours in dangerous factory conditions for very
  little money. Children were useful as laborers
  because their size allowed them to move in small
  spaces in factories or mines where adults
  couldnt fit, children were easier to manage and
  control and perhaps most importantly, children
  could be paid less than adults. Child laborers
  often worked to help support their families, but
  were forced to forgo an education.

4
Using the information in this chart, write one
general statement about the working conditions of
children in the late 1800s.
5
William Cooper began working in a textile factory
at the age of 10. This is how he described his
typical day

• 500 a.m.-Work day begins (this means he would
  have to leave by 4 or 430 to get to work on time
  and eat breakfast on the way.
• 1200 p.m.-40 minute break for lunch.
• 300 p.m.-Children workers would start to get
  sleepy. Adults would often beat them to keep
  them awake.
• 600 p.m. -Child workers would have to eat on
  the run (while they were still working). There
  was no dinner break.
• 900 p.m.-1100 p.m.-End of work day

6
Statistics

• During industrialization, children made up about
  20 of the workforce.
• in 1900 there were 25,000 - 35,000 deaths and 1
  million injuries occurred on industrial jobs,
  many of these victims would have been children.
• Children had higher rates of injury and death at
  work than adults and over 50 of child labor was
  involved in hazardous and dangerous work.
• The main causes of injuries were the factory
  machines and sharp tools. Children lost fingers,
  hands were mangled and some were scalped when
  hair that got caught in the machinery.
• Some children were killed when they fell asleep
  and fell into factory machines.
• Carrying heavy loads caused lifelong deformities
  and handicaps.
• The health of children suffered working in
  back-breaking jobs in dark, gloomy environments
  with poor ventilation. They suffered from lung,
  ear and eye infections and unsanitary conditions
  led to terrible diseases and illnesses such as
  cholera, bronchitis and tuberculosis.
• The horrible working conditions also caused
  children to suffer from mental stress.
• The average factory worker in 1900 was paid about
  12 cents per hour and made 400 a year, but
  children were always paid less. If business was
  slow, no one worked and no one got paid.

7
Treatment

• The treatment of children in factories was often
  cruel and unusual, and the children's safety was
  generally neglected. The youngest children, who
  were not old enough to work the machines, were
  commonly sent to be assistants to textile
  workers. The people who the children served would
  beat them, verbally abuse them, and take no
  consideration for their safety. Both boys and
  girls who worked in factories were subject to
  beatings and other harsh forms of pain
  infliction. One common punishment for being late
  or not working up to quota would be to be
  "weighted." An overseer would tie a heavy weight
  to worker's neck, and have them walk up and down
  the factory aisles so the other children could
  see them and "take example." This could last up
  to an hour. Weighting could lead to serious
  injuries in the back and/or neck. Punishments
  such as this would often be dispensed under
  stringent rules. Boys were sometimes dragged
  naked from their beds and sent to the factories
  only holding their clothes, to be put on there.
  This was to make sure the boys would not be late,
  even by a few minutes.

8
Young Miners South Pittston Pa., January 6,
1911
"At the close of day. Just up from the shaft. All
work below ground in Shaft 6 Pennsylvania, Coal
Co. Clement Tiskie, (smallest boy next to right
hand end) is a nipper. Arthur Havard, (on
Clement's right hand) is a driver. Jo Puma, (on
Arthur's right) is a nipper. Jo's mother showed
me the passport which shows Jo to be 14 years
old, but he has no school certificate although
working inside the mine. Frank Fleming, (boy on
left of photo), a nipper. Works a mile
underground from the shaft which is 500 ft. down.
9
Team WorkHartford, Conn., March 4, 1909.
"A common case of 'team work.' Smaller boy,
Joseph Bishop, goes into saloons and sells his
last paper. Then comes out and his brother gives
him more. Joseph said, 'Drunks are me best
customers. I sell more's me bruder does. Dey buy
me out so I kin go home.' He sells every
afternoon and night. Extra late Saturday night
and is at it again at 6 A.M Sunday.
10
Young DriverWest Virginia, September 1909.
"Young Driver in Mine. Has been driving one year.
7 A.M. to 530 P.M daily.
11
Breaker BoysPittston, Pa., January 16, 1911

• "Breaker boys. Smallest is Angelo Ross.
• Hughestown Borough Coal Co.Pittston, Pa."
• "Breaker Boys" were used in the coal mines to
  separate slate rock from the coal after it had
  been brought out of the shaft. They often worked
  14 to 16 hours a day.

12
Cannery Workers Eastport, Maine August 1911

• From the notes of Lewis Hine "All these boys are
  cutters in a canning co. Ages range from 7 to 12.
  They live near the factory.
• Seven-year-old boy in front, Bryon Hamilton, has
  a badly cut finger but helps his brother
  regularly. Behind him is his brother George, 11
  years old. He cut his finger half off while
  working. They and many youngsters said they were
  always cutting themselves.
• Georges earns a 1.00 some days, usually 75
  cents. Some of the others say they earn a dollar
  when they work all day. At times they start at 7
  a.m. work until midnight, but the work is
  irregular.
• Eastport, Maine August 12, 1911."

13
Mill GirlLancaster, S.C., December 1, 1908

• One of the little spinners working in Lancaster
  Mills. Many others as small.
• Lancaster, S.C."

14
Boys began working as doffers when they were
seven or younger. It was their job to remove the
whirling bobbins when they were filled with
thread and replace them with empty ones. Many of
the youngsters worked barefoot. That made it
easier to climb onto the huge machines so they
could reach the bobbins or broken threads. If
they werent careful, they could fall into the
moving machinery or be caught by it. The accident
rate for children working in the mills was twice
as high as it was for adults. . .
15
Personal Narrative

• Construct a one page personal narrative placing
  yourself as a 12 year working during the
  industrial revolution.
• Where do you work? Why? What are the conditions?
  How do you feel about this
• Rubric 1 page 1st person, 3-6 facts, genuine
  empathy and change and continuity (how has the
  industrial revolution changed your life? How are
  things still the same?)