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Child Labor During The Industrial Revolution

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Children has always been defenseless against the many atrocities and ill-wills throughout human history, and according to an article on History.Com, 18 percent of American workers were under the age of 16 during the 1900s. During the Industrial Revolution, child labor rose to a new pinnacle in taking advantage of young children. During the Industrial Revolution, children as young as 6 and 7 years were compelled to work 10-12 hours a day and sometime more, in dreadful and hazardous environment with few breaks. Consequently, many children became sick, some were injured, and others killed operating dangerous machinery. Not only did they have to put up with the long hours, and horrendous working conditions, but they also, had to deal with the meagre wages they got. Since most children were from poverty stricken homes and their families depended on their wages, they were not allowed to go to school, thereby depriving them of an education.
Labor reformers, educational reformers and leaders of the mid 1900s advocated for the elimination of child labor, thus the establishing of the National Child Labor Committee in 1904. The process was long and …show more content…
The Fair Labor Act of 1938 protects children from being abused and misused by their employers. It makes provision for their safety and well-being, wherein they cannot work in any environment that is considered detrimental to their health. The law also mandates that no child should be employed before the age 16 years, and if they are employed at a younger age, then it is illegal for them to work more than four hours per day. Additionally, education is compulsory in modern America, and children are not forced to go to work to help support their family, it is more a choice on the children’s part to earn pocket money or save for

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