Child Labor
Woodward and other over-lookers used to beat me with pieces of thick leathers straps."
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/5/26154270/908746312.jpg?410)
In the early 20th century children were being employed under inhumane working conditions. By 1900, over 2 million children under the age of 16 were employed. Companies saw children as an opportunity to save money and be more productive. For many years, the government was not considerably involved, and the children were losing their childhood. These were unacceptable working conditions in which the rights/responsibilities of children were not taken into consideration. Government legislation led to better conditions for children many years later.
Image from: http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/U2M9i1Wy6IU/hqdefault.jpg
Image from: http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/U2M9i1Wy6IU/hqdefault.jpg
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/5/26154270/1392852676.jpg)
The working conditions were extremely dangerous. Work days would often be ten to fourteen hours with minimal breaks. Machinery ran so quickly that fingers, arms, and legs, would get caught (as seen as a result on the left). Factories also released toxins and fumes causing illnesses and diseases and future chronic conditions. Companies took advantage of the fact that they had authority over children and abused them.
Image From: http://childlaborphotographs.com/cgibin/ewf/btt/scripts/ewf_processor_btt.cgipage=gallery_child_labor_image_009.src
Image From: http://childlaborphotographs.com/cgibin/ewf/btt/scripts/ewf_processor_btt.cgipage=gallery_child_labor_image_009.src
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/5/26154270/334322255.jpg?436)
The concept of working children was so widespread that it became readily accepted by society. It took several years and numerous attempts by Congress to pass a national law designed to improve working conditions and to raise the legal working age. In 1904, the National Child Labor Committee was formed. Congress finally passed the Fair Labor Standards Acts in 1938. Obviously, child labor was not a top priority for the government. They seemed to agree with the circumstances because it was beneficial to the economy.
Image From: http://brigsblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/child-labor-is-kind-of-cute.html
Image From: http://brigsblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/child-labor-is-kind-of-cute.html
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/5/26154270/318254809.jpeg?386)
Child labor was a result from several other possibilities of problems. Debra Staz notes, "...Bonded labor, is unambiguously detrimental to children.... Moreover, child labor is often a symptom of other problems—poverty, inadequate education systems, discrimination within families, ethnic conflicts, inadequately protected human rights, weak democratic institutions—that will not be eliminated by banning child labor.” Children, no matter the age, if they were able to work, they were automatically considered small adults. "The conditions in which children have to work often lead directly to violations of their rights, such as the right to good health," as stated in flipspagnoli.wordpress.com. It was obvious the government was not concerned with protecting human rights, and children weren't viewed any differently from adults. The government was not considerably involved to help change the damaging circumstances the children were placed in.
Image From: http://filipspagnoli.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/child_labor2.jpg
Image From: http://filipspagnoli.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/child_labor2.jpg
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/5/26154270/1392855535.png)
There were many short term and long term consequences caused by child labor.
Short Term:
*dangerous working conditions
*death
Long Term:
*children not provided with a good education
*illnesses/diseases
*government had to reinforce laws
Clearly, child labor had a negative impact on society, causing harm for the citizens but also the reputation for the rest of history.
Image From: http://www.preda.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/child-labour.jpg
Short Term:
*dangerous working conditions
*death
Long Term:
*children not provided with a good education
*illnesses/diseases
*government had to reinforce laws
Clearly, child labor had a negative impact on society, causing harm for the citizens but also the reputation for the rest of history.
Image From: http://www.preda.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/child-labour.jpg