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The Journey of Child Labor in America

Apr 23, 2025

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.