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Child Labor and the Second Industrial Revolution Essay Example

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Child Labor and the Second Industrial Revolution Essay Example
Child Labor and The Second Industrial Revolution

Children were not seen as non-productive consumers, they were not members of a unique and special period in life, but simply adults in smaller bodies. People perceived childhood as the period when these small adults must not only be provided for but must also be able to contribute, while biding time until they could become productive and useful members of society. As the economy changed, the factory system opened up opportunities for these miniature adults making them become more productive sooner. This attitude greatly contributed to the rise of the child labor system. However, there were other issues that supported the system as well; among these were lack of humanity in dealing with children, the drive for economic gain using laissez faire methods, and a desire by the local parishes to reduce the large numbers of poor people for whom they were responsible for supporting.

Children were not seen as non-productive consumers, they were not members of a unique and special period in life, but simply adults in smaller bodies. People perceived childhood as the period when these small adults must not only be provided for but must also be able to contribute, while biding time until they could become productive and useful members of society. As the economy changed, the factory system opened up opportunities for these miniature adults making them become more productive sooner. This attitude greatly contributed to the rise of the child labor system. However, there were other issues that supported the system as well; among these were lack of humanity in dealing with children, the drive for economic gain using laissez faire methods, and a desire by the local parishes to reduce the large numbers of poor people for whom they were responsible for supporting.

During the second industrial revolution there was such a widespread use of children in the mines and factories. The factories’ managers only efforts were

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