In the 1900s men, women and children went to work in factories and other professions.
Throughout history, children have worked as servants and apprentices. However, in the 1900s, the rise of industry gave birth to a new form of child labor in which children were forced to work long hours in deplorable conditions for a meager wage. The large gap between the rich and poor in the 1900s meant that men, women and children went to work. Without labor laws to protect them, children were in fact the most exploited workers during this time.
Child Labor
In the 1900s, child labor was accepted as a means to stretch the family income. But, without laws in place to protect them, children were often mistreated. Businesses took advantage of child labor because children were small and nimble, allowing them to work with small parts and crawl into small spaces. Children cost less to employ than adults, and were paid only a fraction of what an adult worker would make. Children as young as 6 years old were subject to working 19-hour days for a meager wage, and sometimes no pay at all.
Orphans
If children were the most exploited workers of the era, orphans were the most exploited group of child laborers. They were typically unpaid. Factory owners justified not paying orphans a wage by providing food and shelter. However, the food and shelter that they received was less than acceptable. Due to the fact that they were offered food and shelter, orphans were subject to slave-like labor and long hours. They were often mistreated and abused.
Families
Children went to work to help support their families. In the 1900s 18 percent of children were employed according to the History Channel website. Families would have more children as a way to make ends meet. The average family income in the 1900s was $800 a year, which includes the wages earned by children, states the "Career Development Quarterly". A male worker could earn as much as $8 a week, while female workers earned only $2. Children earned even less, typically pennies a day.
Labor Laws
Labor laws eventually took control over child labor. Education reformers began to argue the importance of education for children over work. Some states also developed a minimum wage, however not every state adhered to this. Federal child labor legislation was passed in 1924, but it wasn't until 1938 that the Fair Labor Standards act was passed. This law placed limitations on child labor and established a minimum wage for all states. The Great Depression also helped to put an end to child labor, as available jobs for adults took precedence over jobs for children.
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