History of Child Labor
Children had been servants throughout most of history, child labor reached new extremes during the Industrial Revolution. Children often worked long hours in dangerous factory conditions for little money. Children were useful as laborers because their size allowed them to move in small spaces in factories or mines where adults couldn’t fit, children were easier to manage and control and more importantly, children could be paid less than adults. Child laborers often worked to help support their families, but were forced to give up education. Nineteenth labor organizers fought to restrict child labor and improve working conditions.