Charles Dickens

Dickens’ Biography • He was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth. • 1824 -- Dickens worked at Warren’s Blacking Warehouse when he was just 12 years old (labeling jars of shoe polish) • 1824 -- Mr. Dickens (Charles’ father) was taken to debtors’ prison; his family joins him after some time.

1837 - Oliver Twist It is Charles Dickens' second novel. It is about a boy named Oliver Twist, who escapes from a workhouse and meets a gang of pickpockets in London. The novel is one of Dickens' most well-known works, and has been the subject of numerous film and television adaptations.

But what was happening in 1837? King William IV of England dies. Victoria becomes queen of England. The British Empire reached its greatest expansion under her reign. The era is often characterized as a long period of peace and economic, colonial, and industrial consolidation. However, during the Industrial Revolution, the population in England grew a huge amount. This was one of the main causes for poverty. More people means less work for everybody.

And, because of the poverty, the children in families were expected to contribute to the family income. Usually children at the age of eight were already working in factories and mines. A child worked for at least ten hours a day.

The personality of Dickens He was an advocate of child labour laws to protect children. He opposed cruelty, deprivation and corporal punishment in the education of children. He was also against the abuses of the Victorian legal and penal systems. He organized amateur theatricals for charitable purposes. He created an institution for homeless and "fallen" women, offering them a positive alternative to the prostitution and crime. He attacked slavery.

BUT TODAY?

Basic fact There are more slaves today than were seized from Africa during the entire 400 years of the trans- Atlantic slave trade. The price for a slave in 1850 in Mississippi was $40,000 (based on constant dollars). The average price of a slave today is $90. The majority of child laborers, an estimated 70%, work in agriculture. Around the world, over 211 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are working. At least 60 million of these children are working under dangerous or abusive conditions.

Were it occurs An estimated 158 million children aged 5-14 are engaged in child labor – 1 in 6 children. In Sub-Saharan Africa, around 1 in 3 children are child laborers – representing 69 million children.

Forms of Child Slavery Forced Labor To extract work or service from any person using the threat of penalties. Debt Bondage Debt bondage occurs when an individual is pledged into slavery as collateral on a loan or to pay a debt. Sometimes parents will pledge their children or the entire family into debt bondage. It is nearly impossible to pay off debt because additional debt is constantly accrued through additional expenses, such as food and lodging.

Chattel Slavery Chattel slavery is the most widely documented, historic form of slavery. Chattel slaves are legally viewed as personal property that can be sold and traded by their master. Religious Slavery Religious slavery refers to when children are sold or given to temple gods and priests. This still occurs today in parts of Africa (such as Ghana) and India.

Effect on Children Health: child slaves are easily replaced; it is more expensive to nurse a sick child to health than to buy a new slave. Consequently, children rarely get medical or psychological attention if needed. Education: child slaves are often denied access to education. Thus, even if they escape slavery, they do not have the skills necessary for higher-paying jobs. Family Ties: child slaves are often separated from their families. Even if these children escape from slavery, their families still may not welcome them home.

Why Does It Exist? Poverty: Children who live in extreme poverty are most susceptible to enslavement. Tradition: Some parents view their children as property over which they have the right to control. Control: Children are attractive slaves because they are easier than adults to manipulate and control. Cheap and Replaceable: The average slave today costs less than $100. Overpopulation in some regions mean there is an abundant supply of children who are available as slaves. Physical Size: Because they are smaller than adults, child slaves are more desirable for certain tasks such as weaving rugs and picking cocoa.