Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolutionand Child Laborand Child Labor

What were conditions like for What were conditions like for the children working in the children working in

nineteenth century factories?nineteenth century factories?

Children in the MillsChildren in the Mills

If businessmen in the Industrial If businessmen in the Industrial Revolution were going to develop Revolution were going to develop their factories they needed people their factories they needed people

to work for them.to work for them.

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Children in the MillsChildren in the Mills

Many of the early Many of the early textile factory textile factory owners employed owners employed large numbers of large numbers of children. This was children. This was not shocking as not shocking as children had always children had always been expected to been expected to work before in the work before in the Industrial Revolution.Industrial Revolution.

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Children in the MillsChildren in the Mills

Some of the children in the mill were Some of the children in the mill were apprentices. These children were apprentices. These children were often orphans, who were sent to the often orphans, who were sent to the factories from the large towns. They factories from the large towns. They lived in the apprentice house near lived in the apprentice house near the the

factory.factory.

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The factory owners paid The factory owners paid overseers to make sure overseers to make sure the children worked as the children worked as hard as they could. The hard as they could. The more work the children more work the children did the more the did the more the overseers were paid. overseers were paid. They were paid less than They were paid less than adults, and apprentices adults, and apprentices were not paid at all but were not paid at all but just worked for food and just worked for food and shelter.shelter.

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Children were also Children were also more supple, so it more supple, so it was easier for them was easier for them to crawl under the to crawl under the machines to repair machines to repair broken threads. broken threads. They did this when They did this when the machines were the machines were working and some working and some were badly injured. were badly injured.

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Primary SourcesPrimary Sources

Let’s see what the primary Let’s see what the primary sources said about conditions sources said about conditions

for the children (read all for the children (read all sources).sources).

Source A Source D Source G

Source B Source E Source H

Source C Source F Images

Exercise Main Page

Child Labor Overview

Source ASource A

Leonard Horner, a factory Leonard Horner, a factory inspector, describes what inspector, describes what

happened to a young girl in a happened to a young girl in a textile factory. “She was caught textile factory. “She was caught

by her apron which wrapped by her apron which wrapped around the shaft. She was whirled around the shaft. She was whirled

round and repeatedly forced round and repeatedly forced between the shaft and the carding between the shaft and the carding engine. Her right leg was found engine. Her right leg was found

some distance away.”some distance away.”Index of Primary Sources Next Source

Exercise

Source BSource BAn extract form the Memoir of Robert Blincoe, an apprentice An extract form the Memoir of Robert Blincoe, an apprentice

from the age of seven.from the age of seven.

This describes his first day at work.This describes his first day at work.

““They reached the mill at about half-past-five in the They reached the mill at about half-past-five in the morning. The moment he entered the doors the noise morning. The moment he entered the doors the noise appalled him and the smell seemed unbearable. His first appalled him and the smell seemed unbearable. His first task was to pick up the loose cotton that fell upon the floor. task was to pick up the loose cotton that fell upon the floor. He set to it eagerly although he was much terrified by the He set to it eagerly although he was much terrified by the noise of the machinery and half-suffocated with the dust.noise of the machinery and half-suffocated with the dust.Unused to the smell he soon felt sick by constant bending. Unused to the smell he soon felt sick by constant bending. He therefore sat down but soon found out this was strictly He therefore sat down but soon found out this was strictly forbidden. His overseer used his whip to prove this point. forbidden. His overseer used his whip to prove this point. He stayed on his legs until 12 o’clock. Blincoe suffered He stayed on his legs until 12 o’clock. Blincoe suffered greatly with thirst and hunger.”greatly with thirst and hunger.”

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Exercise

Source CSource C

Robert Blincoe giving evidence to Parliament Robert Blincoe giving evidence to Parliament about working conditions.about working conditions.

““I have seen the time when two weights have I have seen the time when two weights have been screwed to my ears. Then three or four of been screwed to my ears. Then three or four of us have been hung on a beam over the us have been hung on a beam over the machinery, hanging by our hands. Mind, we were machinery, hanging by our hands. Mind, we were apprentices without a mother or father to take apprentices without a mother or father to take care of us. Then we used to stand up, in a skip, care of us. Then we used to stand up, in a skip, without our shirts, and be beat with straps. Then without our shirts, and be beat with straps. Then they used to tie up a 28-pound weight to hang they used to tie up a 28-pound weight to hang down our backs.”down our backs.”

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Exercise

Source DSource DElizabeth Bentley was questioned by Parliament. She Elizabeth Bentley was questioned by Parliament. She started working at the age of six.started working at the age of six.““Q: Explain what you had to do.Q: Explain what you had to do.A: When the frames are full, they have to stop the frame, A: When the frames are full, they have to stop the frame, and take the flyers off, and take the full bobbins off, and and take the flyers off, and take the full bobbins off, and carry them on to the roller, and then put the empty ones carry them on to the roller, and then put the empty ones on.on.Q: Suppose you slowed down a little, what would they do?Q: Suppose you slowed down a little, what would they do?A: Strap us. The girls had black marks on their skin many a A: Strap us. The girls had black marks on their skin many a time, and their parents dare not come in about it, they were time, and their parents dare not come in about it, they were afraid of losing their work.afraid of losing their work.Q: What part of the mill did you work in?Q: What part of the mill did you work in?A: In the card-room. It was very dusty. The dust got upon A: In the card-room. It was very dusty. The dust got upon my lungs, I got so bad in health. When I gulled the baskets my lungs, I got so bad in health. When I gulled the baskets all heaped up the basket pulled my shoulder out of its place all heaped up the basket pulled my shoulder out of its place and my ribs have grown over it. I am now deformed.”and my ribs have grown over it. I am now deformed.”

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Exercise

Source ESource EMr. John Moss, an overseer, was questioned by parliament.Mr. John Moss, an overseer, was questioned by parliament.““Q: Were any children employed at the factory?Q: Were any children employed at the factory?A: There were 111. All apprentices from London between A: There were 111. All apprentices from London between the ages of seven and eleventhe ages of seven and elevenQ: What were the hours of work?Q: What were the hours of work?A: From five o’clock in the morning till eight at night.A: From five o’clock in the morning till eight at night.Q: What time was allowed for meals?Q: What time was allowed for meals?A: Half and hour for breakfast and half an hour for dinner.A: Half and hour for breakfast and half an hour for dinner.Q: Were they usually tired at night?Q: Were they usually tired at night?A: Yes, some of them were very tired. I have frequently A: Yes, some of them were very tired. I have frequently found some asleep on the factory floor.found some asleep on the factory floor.Q: Were any children injured by machines?Q: Were any children injured by machines?A: Very frequently. Very often their fingers were crushed A: Very frequently. Very often their fingers were crushed and one had his arm broken.”and one had his arm broken.”

Index of Primary Sources Next SourceExercise

Source FSource F

Royal Commission on Factory Royal Commission on Factory Employment (1832)Employment (1832)

““People working at home are in most People working at home are in most cases working from an earlier age for cases working from an earlier age for longer hours and less wages than longer hours and less wages than children employed in factories.”children employed in factories.”

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Exercise

Source GSource GDr. Andrew Ure “The Philosophy of Manufactures” Dr. Andrew Ure “The Philosophy of Manufactures”

(1835)(1835)

““Ill-treatment of any kind is very rare. I have visited Ill-treatment of any kind is very rare. I have visited many factories in Manchester and I have never once many factories in Manchester and I have never once seen a child beaten. Nor did I ever see a child seen a child beaten. Nor did I ever see a child unhappy. They seemed to be always cheerful and unhappy. They seemed to be always cheerful and alert. It was delightful to see the ease with which they alert. It was delightful to see the ease with which they fixed the broken threads. They were delighted to fixed the broken threads. They were delighted to show off their skill to a stranger. They showed no show off their skill to a stranger. They showed no exhaustion when they left at night; they immediately exhaustion when they left at night; they immediately began to skip about and to play games, the same as began to skip about and to play games, the same as boys leaving school.”boys leaving school.”

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Exercise

Source HSource HNassau Senior, a factory owner, gave Nassau Senior, a factory owner, gave his view (1837)his view (1837)

““The easiness of the work makes long The easiness of the work makes long hours possible. Most of the work is hours possible. Most of the work is merely that of watching the machinery, merely that of watching the machinery, and piecing the threads the break. The and piecing the threads the break. The work is not as hard as a shop man work is not as hard as a shop man behind a counter in a busy shop.”behind a counter in a busy shop.”

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Exercise

Index of Primary Sources

Exercise Main Page

ExerciseExercise

You have now seen a range of views You have now seen a range of views on the conditions of the factories for on the conditions of the factories for the children. It’s time to sort these the children. It’s time to sort these ideas out.ideas out. Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Task 4

How you will be scored

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Child Labor Overview

Task 1Task 1

On your own paper:On your own paper: For EACH source write a description For EACH source write a description

of what the source tells us about of what the source tells us about child labor.child labor.

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Exercise Main Page

Task 2Task 2

Copy the chart on Copy the chart on your paper and your paper and place the letter of place the letter of the source under the source under the category you the category you believe applies to believe applies to each source.each source.

In Favor of In Favor of Child laborChild labor

Against Child Against Child LaborLabor

Not sure if for Not sure if for or against or against

        

        

     

        

        

        

        

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Exercise Main Page

Task 3Task 3Answer the following questions for EACH Answer the following questions for EACH

source on your own papersource on your own paper..1)Who wrote it?1)Who wrote it?2)What was their motive for writing it?2)What was their motive for writing it?3) Is it balanced or just 1 person’s point of 3) Is it balanced or just 1 person’s point of view? Why do you say this?view? Why do you say this?

When you are done with all the sources When you are done with all the sources indicate which source you think is most indicate which source you think is most reliable and state why.reliable and state why.

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Exercise Main Page

Task 4Task 4Based on the previous information you are to Based on the previous information you are to write an account of the factories from one of write an account of the factories from one of the following points of view:the following points of view:1)Child1)Child2)Overseer2)Overseer3)Factory Owner3)Factory OwnerThe point of view will be assigned to you by Ms. JacobsThe point of view will be assigned to you by Ms. Jacobs

Your account can be a letter, diary entry or Your account can be a letter, diary entry or question & answer (interview format). It’s question & answer (interview format). It’s your choice.your choice.

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Exercise Main Page

How you will be scored.How you will be scored.

RoleRole : Point of view consistent with that : Point of view consistent with that character’s view point.character’s view point.

Historical AccuracyHistorical Accuracy :Historically accurate :Historically accurate for the time period discussed.for the time period discussed.

Knowledge GainedKnowledge Gained: Can explain several : Can explain several ways their character saw things differently.ways their character saw things differently.

Required Elements: GRequired Elements: Gives more ives more information to tell a good “story”information to tell a good “story”

GrammarGrammar : Story has no grammatical : Story has no grammatical errorserrors

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