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Child labor in the late 1800s
Child labor in the late 1800s
The negative effects of child labor
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Recommended: Child labor in the late 1800s
The primary artifact in this museum exhibit displays children working in a factory in the early 1900’s, shining light on the greater issue of child labor. Through this exhibit, we explore in depth the threats child labor poses to mankind. There are several images portraying the struggles children went through while working in factories or in the fields, accompanied by excerpts of text from different laws concerning child labor and a political cartoon. The two texts from the Child Labor Amendment and the Child Labor Prohibition and Regulation Act portray change over time, as both passages discuss limitations on the extent of child labor in the United States of America. The photos of the injured child, the boys smoking, and the children harvesting
onions depict children’s endeavors when child labor was such a prominent aspect of American society; many of them are shown to be working in irrational environments, putting them in danger. The political cartoon illustrates how child labor has remained the same over time; factory workers and politicians are able to take advantage of children by forcing them to work in order to benefit others’ needs. Overall, the artifacts chosen for this museum exhibit display how the issues regarding child labor have remained prominent in American society, but also how they have changed over time.
During the early 20th century in the U.S, most children of the lower and middle class were workers. These children worked long dangerous shifts that even an adult would find tiresome. On July 22, 1905, at a convention of the National Woman Suffrage Association in Philadelphia, Florence Kelley gave a famous speech regarding the extraneous child labor of the time. Kelley’s argument was to add laws to help the workers or abolish the practice completely. Kelley uses pathos to highlight the need for change and diction get her point across to the audience.
Florence Kelley appeals to the masses that the conscription of unregulated child labor is abhorring through the use of ethos, juxtaposition, and pathos. Kelley’s speech tackles on one of her main goals in life, regulations on child labor. Her speech moved the masses to fight for the rights of children, and she won. Kelley is responsible for the safe working conditions and the child labor laws that the United States has in implementation today.
In Florence Kelley’s speech, she discusses her anger about child labor. She gives numerous examples of how child labor is immoral and wrong, which creates a vindictive and scolding tone. Primarily through imagery, parallel structure, and exemplification, Kelley calls attention to the horror of child labor.
Florence Kelley was a social and political reformer that fought for woman’s suffrage and child labor laws. Her speech to the National American Woman’s Suffrage Association initiated a call to action for the reform of child labor laws. She explains how young children worked long and exhausting hours during the night and how despicable these work conditions were. Kelley’s use of ethos, logos, pathos, and repetition helps her establish her argument for the reform of the child labor laws.
Florence Kelley’s address to the National American Woman Suffrage Association (1905) touches upon both the social and political aspects of the need for reform regarding child labor laws. By revealing the shocking truth about how young children around the country work for long hours in inappropriate conditions, Kelley is able to emphasize the urgency of this situation. Simultaneously, she defends women’s suffrage by presenting the logical statement that there would be laws to prevent extreme child labor if women had the right to vote; more progress could be made if women and men worked together, starting with women’s right to vote. In her address to the National American Woman Suffrage Association,
but he dose not see that here in the present of Mr Greg. The workers
Many Americans choose to forget the past brutalities of child labor. Unfortunately, the past does not disappear. Child labor did take place in the U.S. and the Carolina Cotton Mill photograph is a prominent witness. Lewis Wickes Hine is the artist behind this powerful photo, which was taken in the early 1900s (Dimock). Hine’s Carolina Cotton Mill embodies the struggle of child labor through the incorporation of situational information, artistic elements such as lines and space, and cultural values.
Children were useful as laborers because their size allowed them to move in small spaces in factories or mines where adults couldn’t fit, such as it was for chimney sweeping. Children were also easier to manage and control and could be paid less than adults. Supporters of child labor also argued that the employing children was beneficial to the family, the child, and to the country; the conditions were similar as it has been in cottages, farms, or up the chimneys. The work was simple enough for children and helped them make an obligatory contribution to the family’s income. To factory owners, employing children was seen as necessary for their products to remain competitive and for production to run smoothly. Additionally, Child labor can be used as a mean of preventing vice and idleness. Thus, child labor was seen as beneficial to society, to the children, and to the
“Child Labor in U.S. History.” Child Labor Public Education Project. 2011. Web. 2. April. 2014
Child Labour and The Industrial Revolution During the 1800s the Industrial Revolution spread throughout Britain. The use of steam-powered machines, led to a massive increase in the number of factories (particularly in textile factories or mills). From Country to Town As the number of factories grew people from the countryside began to move into the towns looking for better paid work.
Close your eyes and imagine this... It’s 1899 in New York City, girls you are outside drying clothes or working in a sewing factory, guys you are out on the streets selling newspapers for a penny a paper. You are wearing a ragged coat because that is your only source of warmth from the bitter cold of NYC. You’re covered in dirt because you cannot afford to have good hygiene. Child labor was not illegal in the 1800’s so children are forced to work to the bone in order to eat because they are on their own. Their parents could not afford having them live with them and eating their food. Think about it… If this was you then, your own parents couldn’t afford have you with them. Over 30,000 children were orphaned in New York City during the late
In the 1890-1920s, America went through rapid urbanization and industrialization. This was called the Progressive Era. This Era advanced in technology, science, and economic development. This fast development led to Child Labor. Children at the age of 5 are forced to start work in unsafe conditions like factories, and mining, to support their families. Another problem was the Meat Industry, Since America is rapidly growing fast cities demanded large quantities of food. Food manufacturers would prepare their food poorly and hire chemist’s to hide to preserve food or the smell of freshness with unsafe chemicals. Child Labor and Meat Industry issues led to people to the progressive movement and to fight for the sake of their people.
Britain emerged in the eighteenth century as an empowered force through the use of resources as well as an immense workforce. Britain was able to benefit their nation through the exploitation of its resources which ultimately changed the entire course of the nation. These innovations led an increase in capital, but also increased the complications of the working class and its children. These issues culminate into a realization that the Industrial Revolution held positive and negative aspects through innovations in transportation, breakthroughs with machinery which empowered the rise of factories, as well as the exploitation of children during the revolution of the factories.
Children all over the world today are being forced into labor. They are being made to work in sweatshops, prostitution rings, and even the military and face negative consequences as a result.
Child labor has been a problem especially for those children living in poverty or those with little to no education. If children become laborers at a young age, they will miss out on education, and all things that make them children, like playing or having family time. With no education, they will be limited to what they can do in society. If parents of children were child laborers, they most likely did not earn a complete education, and are more likely to not earn a higher salary. Because of that, it is more likely that their children will become child laborers, beginning a cycle of child labor. It is important to China that their children have a good childhood. They hope that their children, and children around the world, do not have to