During the Industrial Revolution, the health of the English textile factory workers was put at risk due to harsh working conditions, resulting in harmful accidents and deadly pollution. The factory workers faced long working hours, usually from “five in the morning to nine or ten at night” (Doc C). In addition to this long hours, workers only received one small breakfast break, only consisting of water-porridge, oatcakes, and onions. This lead to an unstable health in the workers and caused problems later in life. Documents A provide examples on how the working conditions during the Industrial Revolution were dangerous and unsafe. Dr. Ward recalls “the children's hands and arms having being caught in the machinery”, which in some cases led…
Coming out of the Age of Enlightenment, Europeans were filled with new ideas regarding economics. Grouped with those ideas was a desire to increase production and innovation. This is what ushered in the Industrial Revolution, a rapid development of industry in Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries. From the beginning of the revolution in the late 1700's, all ages and both genders were used as workers in mills and factories. More so than in previous eras, children were common employees alongside their elders. Being children, though, their needs were often overlooked or ignored completely. For the most part, the working conditions of children during the Industrial Revolution were extremely harsh and they received poor treatment. However, some…
b) Likewise, a pamphlet (Doc 5) provides further evidence that child labor brought by the industrial revolution was, at first, viewed as a newly established, positive social aspect. Mr. Dale, the factory owner, set regulations in order to ensure the safety and welfare of his youthful workers.…
Nowadays, child labor laws are very strict, but during the industrial revolution, child labor laws did not even exist. As a result, there were few to no protections concerning the children of the time. To begin, children had to work for extremely long hours with very little sleep. Children who worked in factories, as fork grinders, had many serious accidents. For one, these children were only of age eight or older. This was very dangerous because they would not have the sense to get out of the way if a stone or object flew out at them. Another concern was the amount of dust in the…
For many children, the Industrial Revolution had a negative impact on their lives. The children who had to work did not have a say in whether they wanted to or not. Since children were working about 16 hours a day, they were unable to attend school to get any education at all (Document 1). Because they were unable to go to school, they were never taught how to write (Document 1). Some children who did work in the factories were fortunate enough to learn how to read from family members at home such as parents, or older siblings. In most factories where children were found, they were beaten if they did not follow directions or if they have done something wrong. From all of the horrible working conditions, children were permanently damaged for the rest of their lives (Document 2). Due to standing the entire time they were working their muscles would stop functioning properly and their bodies couldn’t support the weight of their bones (Document 2). Many children have died working in the factories because they would get cut and then develop an infection (Document 2). Other times children have been caught in the machine and had their bones broken and their flesh ripped and children working with them would try and rescue them and get injured in the process (Document 2). This all occurred because the shaft to the machine was not covered (Document 2). Children were also being told that they would soon die because of the dust that would fill the air in the factories, being overworked and having an…
To industrialize, workers were required. Some workers lived their life in servitude, with barely any time to sleep, barely any time to eat, and with absolutely terrible living conditions. Joseph Hebergam testified to the Sadler Committee that his lungs were damaged from the dust in the factories in which he worked, and that his leg muscles couldn’t support the weight of his bones because of “insufficient diet” (document 2). His brother died from infection after being cut by a factory machine. Hedergam testifies that a boy died at a mill being caught in a machine and his sister almost died attempting to save him (document 2). If the shaft was covered, this allegedly may never have happened to any of them. This is unacceptable, however, opinions of certain other people differ. Children are forced to work in these unethical work conditions not knowing the imminent danger they face every single day. They choose to approach their day happily and work carefree, only because they are children. In The Philosophy of Manufactures, Andrew Ure states exactly that it is better for the children to be laboring in the factory as opposed…
Within the seldom years of 1900-1920, numerous movements involving working took place, undoubtedly due to the horrible conditions of Americans, including children. In the beginning, the National Labor Union (1866-1873) stood for an eight hour work day and began the way to the Knights of Labor, (1880s) which inevitably paved the way for the Child Labor Laws to take precedence. Conditions for children in the workplace were sordid and dangerous, consisting of the operating of dangerous equipment and overuse of children in the workplace, over exhausting young children who should be at home and cared for by their mothers. Socially, after Child Labor Laws were passed, there was an increase in leisure time along with an increase of the health of children, improving their lives drastically. Nonetheless, Child Labor Laws were passed and continue to have an affect on life, all thanks to the early reformers who began protesting for an eight hour work day, the National Labor…
Child Labor Have you heard of one of the causes of why children and adults died in the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s? Child labor was terrible and needed to be stopped. In the 1800 and 1900’s, children were forced to work in factories in America. Child labor was hazardous and awful, and many actions were taken to improve working conditions and save the lives of children. In the 1800 and 1900’s, working conditions were deadly and cruel.…
During the Industrial Revolution children worked extreme hours in very bad working conditions for very low pay, even less than what adults were paid. The Idea was that children were useful as laborers because of their usually small size. It allowed them to move in small spaces in factories or mines where most adults wouldn’t fit. They were easier to control and manage compared to adults. These children were most likely working to help support their families…
Accidents occurred frequently whether it was someone losing their hearing from the loud machinery or someone losing their life to from faulty equipment or lack of training. Many children suffered stunted physical and mental growth because because of the factory conditions (Lapsansky-Werner 92). Around the 1820’s workers were attempting to gain more power by collective bargaining where they would consult with their employer for more substantial wages and conditions in which they worked. Some regions would go on strike trying to earn better pay and shorter hour shifts.…
“Children as young as four years old worked long hours in factories under dangerous conditions. The practice of child labor continued throughout much of the Industrial Revolution until laws were eventually passed that made child labor illegal.”…
The next group that was severely impacted by the industrialization was the children. Prior to the Revolution, children would work in their family home. Once the revolution begun, child labor become common; children worked long hours with few breaks. Children would be punished if they fell asleep, but the necessity of their wages was obvious (“Childhood” 1). Machines were thought to be the perfect size for children with small hands and fingers. Unfortunately, hands and feet would get caught, and children were easily injured. The environment in the factory was unhealthy; sickness from fumes was a norm. Grace Abbot, a Progressive Era reformer, attempted to pass the first child labor law in 1917 (“Children” 1). Congress struck down this legislation,…
Also the Industrial Revolution started up again major concerns in Child labor laws and worker safety laws. As more and more children began entering the work force, the growing concern for their safety allowed several laws that began the laws we enact today. The act of children working was not the problem at first, but the factory system that physically hurt the children the most. The laws before the industrial revolution forced employers to either educate, or obtain educated young employees for dangerous jobs. After they were not enforced during the time period, the damage was great. Later laws did not allow factory jobs to youth younger than the age of 14, but were usually found unconstitutional. It was not until the late 1930s that the laws were truly established and upheld, and gave the youth a better chance in life.…
The minimum wage was first enacted into law as part of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938. The original minimum wage applied to workers engaged in interstate commerce and the production of goods for interstate commerce. In 1938, this applied to roughly 11.0 million workers out of a total of 54.9 million workers. The minimum wage was set at $0.25 per hour. However, by 1966 the minimum wage $1.25 and applied to virtually all workers. In its beginnings, the minimum wage was set at a value that was high enough for a person to live off of (Valetta 3). However, in recent years someone who works a job that pays minimum wage will fall well below the poverty line. Therefore, instead of somebody working three jobs to support their family, a…
Minimum wage is an hourly wage that is set by law made by the government. Minimum wage was first implemented in the US in Massachusetts in 1912. In 1924, the Supreme Court ruled that having a minimum wage violated the Fifth Amendment by impeding with “the freedom of businesses and workers to form contracts without government interference” (“Minimum Wage”). The Supreme Court then revoked their decision during The Great Depression and decided that the government had the right to establish minimum wage rates. The 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act set a minimum wage of forty cents per hour for businesses that traded between states. The Fair Minimum…