Industrial Revolution: Child Labor Mr. Rosenberg Industrial Revolution: Child Labor

Exploitation (defined): Treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work.

Working Conditions Rural textile mills and factories Dirty, dangerous, harsh disclipline

Long Hours, Low Wages William Cooper, child laborer in Textile Industry Wake up at 4am, Workday begins at 5am.

William Cooper-Child Laborer 12pm Lunch break (40 mins). Only break of day.

William Cooper-Testimony 3pm-Children become drowsy, overseers sometimes whipped them to keep them awake.

William Cooper-Testimony 6pm-No break for dinner, children ate on the run while they worked.

William Cooper-Testimony 9pm-Workday ends after 16 hour shift. (11pm end for Cooper’s sister)

Why Children?

Child Labor-Quotes “Dark satanic mills” –Charles Dickens “Places of sexual license, foul language, cruelty, violence, accidents, and alien manners” –E.P. Thompson (English writer) “Overlookers used to beat me with thick leather straps…drew blood almost every time it was applied” –John Brown (reporter for “The Lion”)

Factory Acts Cotton Factories Regulations Act (1819): set minimum working age at 9, and hours at 12 Regulation of Child Labor Law (1833): Paid inspectors to enforce laws. 2 hours schooling each day. Ten Hours Bill (1847): Limited 10 hour workday for children and women.

Video Clip-”Turning Points in History, Industrial Revolution” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Efq-aNBkvc&list=PLc8OM18qwj4KZzoUlZI-cOwL5B7pK2BrU What is your main take-away from this video? Why are labor laws (Factory Acts) important? Can you think of any positives of Child labor?

Political Cartoon-Quick Write, What is the meaning?

Political Cartoon-Child Labor