Child Labor During The Industrial Revolution

Sofia Bambina Mrs. Sather Western Civilization 300 May 2024 Child Labor during the Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution took place from 1760 to 1840, reaching all areas of the globe. First starting in Great Britain, then spreading to the rest of Europe, and finally westward to the United States, this 80-year period modernized the globe through advancements in technology, production, urbanization, and economics. As a result, the workforce was forever altered. With a significant change in the workforce, child labor practices became common in different places. Due to the rapid rate of industrialization, the demand for cheap, unskilled labor increased. Children were needed to fill the expanding workforce. From working in mines, factories,
Organizations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) work to protect human and labor rights and to promote social justice across the globe. In the twenty-first century, child labor standards include, minimum age requirements, restrictions on hazardous work, limited working hours, required education, and legal working conditions. The minimum working age as a result of these standards is 14 or 15, depending on the country. Children under 18 are not allowed to engage in work that poses a threat to their safety and well-being. In addition, each child has the right to an education, and many countries require an education up to a certain age. Due to required education, there are limited hours that children can work. There are also standards set that ensure the safety of the children when employed. Although there are still underdeveloped nations that rely on child labor, these laws exist internationally and are followed by approximately 186 countries (“Rid”). Overall, the legacy of child labor from the Industrial Revolution has influenced the development of international standards in the hope of ending child labor