Child Labour During The Industrial Revolution
When studying child labor, historians will revisit the Industrial Revolution, primarily that of the textile and coal mines of Great Britain. This is due to the Industrial Revolution being the dominant force of child labor in western countries, therefore carrying the most historical weight when examining European childhood. This essay takes the position that child labor was a blight in our history. First, this essay will examine the comparison of industrial (specifically the textile industry) child labor to other forms of child labor during the Industrial Revolution. Industrial childhood was a vastly different life, and arguably much more crippling in the long run. Then, the two sides of the debate on child labor will be examined. Some will
…show more content…
The three main sources this essay will explore are "Documents on child labour in Britain during the Industrial Revolution.”, Carolyn Tuttle’s “Economy” and Colin Heywood’s “Children’s Work in Countryside and …show more content…
The anti-child labour movement included medical professionals, as well as historians and politicians. Historian E.J. Hobsbawn described the factories as "dark Satantic mills." The reformers mainly took note of the extremely unsafe conditions for the children and their undeveloped minds and bodies. Some extremities include the eighty-seven degree temperatures with scarce airflow, the smell of the materials and the deafening noises produced by the machines. In 1832, Michael Sadler made a speech in the House of Commons. Sadler explains that the children suffered from exhaustion and in many cases are injured or even died from the conditions. Sadler also makes note that these children would starve if they did not work, and that "They (the parents) choose the lesser evil, and reluctantly resign their offspring to the captivity and pollution of the mill. " Sir William Blizard, a surgeon in 1832, speaks on the dangers of the pollution in the air in these factories and how harmful it can be for the children's lungs. When asked if he thought children, under any circumstances, should be sent to the mill, he replied with "certainly
The three main sources this essay will explore are "Documents on child labour in Britain during the Industrial Revolution.”, Carolyn Tuttle’s “Economy” and Colin Heywood’s “Children’s Work in Countryside and …show more content…
The anti-child labour movement included medical professionals, as well as historians and politicians. Historian E.J. Hobsbawn described the factories as "dark Satantic mills." The reformers mainly took note of the extremely unsafe conditions for the children and their undeveloped minds and bodies. Some extremities include the eighty-seven degree temperatures with scarce airflow, the smell of the materials and the deafening noises produced by the machines. In 1832, Michael Sadler made a speech in the House of Commons. Sadler explains that the children suffered from exhaustion and in many cases are injured or even died from the conditions. Sadler also makes note that these children would starve if they did not work, and that "They (the parents) choose the lesser evil, and reluctantly resign their offspring to the captivity and pollution of the mill. " Sir William Blizard, a surgeon in 1832, speaks on the dangers of the pollution in the air in these factories and how harmful it can be for the children's lungs. When asked if he thought children, under any circumstances, should be sent to the mill, he replied with "certainly