History of Child Labor in the United States: Part 1 - Little Children Working

Introduction

• Child labor was commonplace in the U.S. post-Civil War.
• Children worked in various industries including retail, agriculture, and home-based work.
• Notable observation by a Native American chieftain on children working in New York.
• Shift from child labor occurred within the last 100 years.

Historical Context

• In the 18th century, children were seen as future laborers in rural families.
• At age 5, children began contributing to farm work and chores.
• Large families sent children to work as maids or servants when possible.

Evolution of Child Labor

• Early Human History: Children worked in hunting, fishing, and agriculture.
• Medieval Times: Guilds introduced children to trades.
• Capitalism Era: Children were seen as a solution to idleness.
• English laws promoted child labor to prevent vagabonds and paupers.

American Context

• Colonial laws prevented children from being societal burdens.
• Orphan children were apprenticed or sent to domestic work.
• Manufacturing growth increased demand for child labor.

Industrial Revolution

• Alexander Hamilton advocated using idle children as cheap labor.
• By 1820, children constituted over 40% of mill workers in some states.

Child Labor in Various Occupations

Street Trades

• Children worked as newspaper sellers, shoe shiners, and couriers.
• Newsies were a common sight; competition for sales locations was fierce.

Mines

• Children worked as trappers, breaker boys, and helpers in coal mines.
• Trappers opened doors for coal cars, while breaker boys sorted coal.

Cotton Mills

• Significant child labor force in textile mills, especially in the South.
• Families depended on income from children's labor.

Factories

• Children worked in light manufacturing, such as glass bottle production.
• Boys were recruited, sometimes from orphanages, to meet labor demands.

Home Workshops

• Home-based production was common for items like flowers and garments.
• Children worked under parental supervision, increasing family income.

Farms

• Two-thirds of child labor was on farms during the Gilded Age.
• Children were integral to the family farm and broader agricultural economy.

Legal Foundation and Economic Implications

• Child labor was legally supported by the notion of children as parental property.
• Earnings were considered family income, aiding financial survival.
• Parents controlled children's earnings, reinforcing family hierarchy.

Conclusion

• Perception shift from economic units to individual rights helped reduce child labor.
• Legal and constitutional challenges slowed reform efforts.
• Shift in societal views and awareness of exploitation led to eventual decline in child labor.

References

• History of legal perspectives on child labor.
• Efforts of reformers to change child labor laws.
• Comparison of child labor across different societal classes.