Why Is Child Labor Important In The Victorian Era
Child Labor of the Victorian Era
The Victorian Era was a time period from 1837 to 1901 in which Queen Victoria was in power. During this time, so much went on that influenced the world today, as it will in the world tomorrow. Also many things were taken advantage of during this period. One main thing that occurred during this time period that was highly taken advantage of is child labor. Child labor was experienced by many famous people, such as Charles Dickens in the years of the Victorian Era.
Since most children started working from ages 6-7, they did not know right from wrong and what was a normal working life. Throughout this period of time, child labor had many ways to be taken advantage of by others. First, “…in the 1830’s… philanthropists desired a low cost solution that would isolate poor children”(Bates). What this means is, since children could be paid less money than adults, factories and workplaces were willing to hire children over adults. Not only was this cheaper, but more money for the workplace to draw in. Another reason that can be supported by the first, is that children would not fight …show more content…
back or revolt, but adults could and would if being paid such a low wage and given the poor conditions children were. The last way children were taken advantage was, since they had small hands and were quicker then most adults, they were likely to make the product or item the factory was making faster.
Jobs in factories, as well as anywhere else, were not easy or safe for most children. One of the most popular jobs for both boys and girls was a household servant. Boys often worked in chimneys in which they would have to clean them in the most unsafe ways. Boys learned at a very young age how to climb up in them. Through this many wound up falling and dying, or even worse burning to death or suffocating. Boys also worked in mines. These boys were almost a hundred percent guaranteed death if something went wrong. Frequently, mines collapsed or even exploded. Girls on the other hand turned to prostitution. Men often paid twenty-five to a hundred pounds or more (depending on the class of the girl) for a girl. Prostitution caused girls their life because diseases were commonly spread through this.
Children nearly lived in the factories. Almost all of them were very poorly built and had been collapsing if not collapsed already. There was very little air that came through the buildings and there was no indoor plumbing. This was a huge problem because waste from humans was thrown onto the streets. When and if the children did go home, their houses had leaking roofs and squeaky, disgusting floors. Most houses were very crowded and rented out by the room. These conditions did not stop people though.
In the Victorian Era, most factories used candles for lighting. This created a dangerous environment because they were very easy to knock over. Since factories were full of unskilled workers, who didn’t know how to properly use the machinery, it put many children’s lives in jeopardy. The lack of understanding resulted in children being crushed, killed, or even beaten to death by belts. Not only were the machines a hazard to children and anyone for that matter, but also the unclean, dilapidated buildings, which caused sicknesses and sometimes death.
In the factories, children rarely saw their family. In fact, the only time they saw each other was eating and before going to sleep. This changed the outcome of many people’s lives. For example, if a girl’s mother was working and she was, too, the girl would never learn housewife skills. During this time, when child labor was accepted, the idea that education is not needed was popular and it played a small part in children’s lives. Eventually over half the population of children who worked, had no schooling at all. In 1881, children were required to go to school. Although this occurred, many children avoided school and picked work because they would earn money that way.
Many attempts were made to try and put an end to child labor.
One instance in which this happened during the Victorian Era was by a man named Edwin Chadwick. “The victory of the Whigs in the turbulent election of 1830 provided Chadwick with his opportunity”(Brundage). Through this Chadwick was able to express his opinion. Chadwick, and the Whigs, believed that child labor should be abolished and did every possible thing needed to prove it should happen. His idea for a new law was that “the… Factory Act abolished all labor for children under the age of nine and limited it to eight hours per day for those aged nine to thirteen”(Brundage). After a study by the government this was approved. This had its ups and downs though because it didn’t abolish child labor, but it decreased deaths, illnesses, and gave time for at least some
schooling.
As mentioned in the first paragraph, many famous people were part of child labor. One who sticks out most is Charles Dickens who was born into this world in a time period when only 66 books were published in Britain, the same year he was born. Born in 1812, Dickens produced numerous books throughout his life on just the printing press. Dickens was not a popular man until 1870, the year he died. He was named “…the first literary celebrity: a career writer and publisher, famous and beloved, who had led an explosion in both the publication of novels and their readership”(Jones). He was well known for his style in which he attracted readers.
Though writing was not his initial idea for his future, Dickens ended up as one. He originally wanted to be an actor or a reporter, but when he was accepted to write for comic sketches things changed for him. Through this he found himself not only writing for money, but for his audience, too. After passing away, Dickens was really found out. Prior to when a close friend, John Forester, wrote a biography of Charles Dickens’s life, many people did not know what Dickens childhood life was like. In the biography written by John Forester, there was a story that only a very few knew before his death. In this, Dickens’s childhood life was explained and how he was put through child labor. Because his dad was in debtor’s prison, he was sent to work in a factory. This stunned readers everywhere for two huge reasons. Not only did people learn what he was put through as a child, but even bigger, where he got most of his story ideas.
In conclusion, children, who were very easily taken advantage of during the Victorian era, were treated brutally and were not a slight bit taken care of by other workers. Child labor was a conflict not only in physical ways, but mentally, too. Because children were working, they could not be schooled. When schooling finally became required, people realized what children should really be doing. Eventually child labor was cut down during the era. No children below the age of nine were allowed to work. This allowed at least some schooling for children. As a result, children suffered and gave their life because of uneducated leaders allowing child labor.
Works Cited
Bates, Rebecca J. "Building Imperial Youth? Reflections On Labour And The Construction Of Working-Class Childhood In Late Victorian England." Paedagogica Historica 45.1/2 (2009): 143-156. Academic Search Premier. February–April 2009. Web.
Brundage, Anthony. "Edwin Chadwick." Great Lives from History: The Nineteenth Century. Ed. John Powell. 4 vols. Salem Press, 2007. Salem History Web.
Jones, Radhika, SACHS, ANDREA. "Charles In Charge." Time 179.4 (2012): 52. MAS Ultra - School Edition. 1/30/2012. Web.
"Victorian Age." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web.
The Victorian Era was a time period from 1837 to 1901 in which Queen Victoria was in power. During this time, so much went on that influenced the world today, as it will in the world tomorrow. Also many things were taken advantage of during this period. One main thing that occurred during this time period that was highly taken advantage of is child labor. Child labor was experienced by many famous people, such as Charles Dickens in the years of the Victorian Era.
Since most children started working from ages 6-7, they did not know right from wrong and what was a normal working life. Throughout this period of time, child labor had many ways to be taken advantage of by others. First, “…in the 1830’s… philanthropists desired a low cost solution that would isolate poor children”(Bates). What this means is, since children could be paid less money than adults, factories and workplaces were willing to hire children over adults. Not only was this cheaper, but more money for the workplace to draw in. Another reason that can be supported by the first, is that children would not fight …show more content…
back or revolt, but adults could and would if being paid such a low wage and given the poor conditions children were. The last way children were taken advantage was, since they had small hands and were quicker then most adults, they were likely to make the product or item the factory was making faster.
Jobs in factories, as well as anywhere else, were not easy or safe for most children. One of the most popular jobs for both boys and girls was a household servant. Boys often worked in chimneys in which they would have to clean them in the most unsafe ways. Boys learned at a very young age how to climb up in them. Through this many wound up falling and dying, or even worse burning to death or suffocating. Boys also worked in mines. These boys were almost a hundred percent guaranteed death if something went wrong. Frequently, mines collapsed or even exploded. Girls on the other hand turned to prostitution. Men often paid twenty-five to a hundred pounds or more (depending on the class of the girl) for a girl. Prostitution caused girls their life because diseases were commonly spread through this.
Children nearly lived in the factories. Almost all of them were very poorly built and had been collapsing if not collapsed already. There was very little air that came through the buildings and there was no indoor plumbing. This was a huge problem because waste from humans was thrown onto the streets. When and if the children did go home, their houses had leaking roofs and squeaky, disgusting floors. Most houses were very crowded and rented out by the room. These conditions did not stop people though.
In the Victorian Era, most factories used candles for lighting. This created a dangerous environment because they were very easy to knock over. Since factories were full of unskilled workers, who didn’t know how to properly use the machinery, it put many children’s lives in jeopardy. The lack of understanding resulted in children being crushed, killed, or even beaten to death by belts. Not only were the machines a hazard to children and anyone for that matter, but also the unclean, dilapidated buildings, which caused sicknesses and sometimes death.
In the factories, children rarely saw their family. In fact, the only time they saw each other was eating and before going to sleep. This changed the outcome of many people’s lives. For example, if a girl’s mother was working and she was, too, the girl would never learn housewife skills. During this time, when child labor was accepted, the idea that education is not needed was popular and it played a small part in children’s lives. Eventually over half the population of children who worked, had no schooling at all. In 1881, children were required to go to school. Although this occurred, many children avoided school and picked work because they would earn money that way.
Many attempts were made to try and put an end to child labor.
One instance in which this happened during the Victorian Era was by a man named Edwin Chadwick. “The victory of the Whigs in the turbulent election of 1830 provided Chadwick with his opportunity”(Brundage). Through this Chadwick was able to express his opinion. Chadwick, and the Whigs, believed that child labor should be abolished and did every possible thing needed to prove it should happen. His idea for a new law was that “the… Factory Act abolished all labor for children under the age of nine and limited it to eight hours per day for those aged nine to thirteen”(Brundage). After a study by the government this was approved. This had its ups and downs though because it didn’t abolish child labor, but it decreased deaths, illnesses, and gave time for at least some
schooling.
As mentioned in the first paragraph, many famous people were part of child labor. One who sticks out most is Charles Dickens who was born into this world in a time period when only 66 books were published in Britain, the same year he was born. Born in 1812, Dickens produced numerous books throughout his life on just the printing press. Dickens was not a popular man until 1870, the year he died. He was named “…the first literary celebrity: a career writer and publisher, famous and beloved, who had led an explosion in both the publication of novels and their readership”(Jones). He was well known for his style in which he attracted readers.
Though writing was not his initial idea for his future, Dickens ended up as one. He originally wanted to be an actor or a reporter, but when he was accepted to write for comic sketches things changed for him. Through this he found himself not only writing for money, but for his audience, too. After passing away, Dickens was really found out. Prior to when a close friend, John Forester, wrote a biography of Charles Dickens’s life, many people did not know what Dickens childhood life was like. In the biography written by John Forester, there was a story that only a very few knew before his death. In this, Dickens’s childhood life was explained and how he was put through child labor. Because his dad was in debtor’s prison, he was sent to work in a factory. This stunned readers everywhere for two huge reasons. Not only did people learn what he was put through as a child, but even bigger, where he got most of his story ideas.
In conclusion, children, who were very easily taken advantage of during the Victorian era, were treated brutally and were not a slight bit taken care of by other workers. Child labor was a conflict not only in physical ways, but mentally, too. Because children were working, they could not be schooled. When schooling finally became required, people realized what children should really be doing. Eventually child labor was cut down during the era. No children below the age of nine were allowed to work. This allowed at least some schooling for children. As a result, children suffered and gave their life because of uneducated leaders allowing child labor.
Works Cited
Bates, Rebecca J. "Building Imperial Youth? Reflections On Labour And The Construction Of Working-Class Childhood In Late Victorian England." Paedagogica Historica 45.1/2 (2009): 143-156. Academic Search Premier. February–April 2009. Web.
Brundage, Anthony. "Edwin Chadwick." Great Lives from History: The Nineteenth Century. Ed. John Powell. 4 vols. Salem Press, 2007. Salem History Web.
Jones, Radhika, SACHS, ANDREA. "Charles In Charge." Time 179.4 (2012): 52. MAS Ultra - School Edition. 1/30/2012. Web.
"Victorian Age." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web.