Introduction

(Image from here)

    
     The Industrial Revolution is important in history because it changed the world in multiple ways (economics, imperialism, industry, etc).  Goods went from being produced individually by skilled workers to being mass-produced in factories.  Many inventions made the Industrial Revolution possible.  It started in Great Britain and Europe in the late 1700's and then later expanded to the United States (mostly in the North East). 
     Children worked in factories, mills, and mines to make extra money for their families.  Most students learn about children working in factories and living in industrial cities.  The children working in areas that are more rural and working in cotton fields and mines are often overlooked.  The working conditions for these children were just as bad if not worse than the working conditions for those working in factories. 
    
     The following blog posts contain primary documents relating to child labor during the Industrial Revolution.  The focus is on children who work in mines.  The posts begin with information on the Industrial Revolution in general.  There is a post on child factory workers so students can compare and contrast factory conditions with mining conditions.  The primary documents include examples of hazardous child labor and finishes with sources on the laws that were created because of this.  Feel free to leave your responses in the comments section. 

Sources: http://www.nettlesworth.durham.sch.uk/time/victorian/vindust.html
                      http://americanhistory.about.com/od/industrialrev/a/indrevoverview.htm

The Industrial Revolution

Johnstown, Pennsylvania during the Industrial Revolution

1.  About what time period was this picture taken?
2.  What do you know already about the Industrial Revolution?
3.  Does this photograph coincide with your background knowledge on the Industrial Revolution?
4.  Why?  What are some examples?
5.  Compare this photo of the city to a modern industrial city you have visited. 
6.  How have cities changed? Or, are most cities the same post-Industrial Revolution?

Young Factory Workers

Young children working in a factory (Image found here)

1.  What is taking place in this picture?

2.  What are the children making?

3.  What are some important aspects to take note about?

4.  What would these children be doing in modern times?

5.  Describe the conditions of the factory.

6.  Why do you think child labor was used in factories?  What are some advantages and disadvantages?

Dangerous Mines

Drawing of child miners (Image from ENotes.com)

1.  What does this drawing depict?
2.  Why was coal important at this time?

3.  What are the children doing in the mines?  What is their job?

4.  Why were children used in the mines?

5.  Compare and contrast working in a factory and working in a mine.

6.  Which in your opinion is worse?  Why?



Child Workers

Group of breaker boys in Pennsylvania (Image from the Library of Congress)

1.  What kind of facial expressions do these boys have?  What does this tell you?

2.  Describe their appearance.

3.  Why do you think there are no girls in this picture?

4.  What kind of jobs do you think girls were partaking in?

5.  Today, children this age attend school.  Why do you this is?

6.  Which do you think is more beneficial to a young child- education or work?  Why?



Mine Safety

(Image from the Mine Safety and Health Administration)

1.  What is taking place in this photograph?

2.  Describe the working conditions young boys faced.

3.  What types of dangers could you see taking place?

4.  What do you think the adult male's job is?

5.  Where do you think this photograph was taken (rural or urban area)?

6.  Why do you think children had this specific job of sorting coal?

Child Labor in the South

The Atlanta Constitution (November 12, 1900)

1.  When was this article published?

2.  What kind of industry will this bill affect?

3.  What age group of children will this bill affect?

4.  What specific reasons does the article give for a bill being created that opposes child labor?

5.  In the article, what are some points made to fight the Child Labor Bill?

6.  In your opinion, does this article give an unbiased account of both sides?  Why or why not?

Child Labor in the News

The Atlanta Constitution (November 19, 1900)

1.  What is this article reporting?

2.  Does this article seem biased (for or against child labor)?

3.  How do the cotton mill representatives stand?  What is their position on the issue?

4.  In Georgia, where do you think most children worked?

5.  How do you think child labor was different in the Northern states compared to the Southern states?

6.  Why do you think most child labor primary sources from this time period were from the North?

Mining Company Towns

Mining town in Hazard, Kentucky (Image from Library of Congress)

1.  Describe the houses shown above.

2.  What do you think a mining company town is?

3.  What kind of life do you think people in these towns lead?

4.  In reference to previous photographs, how did mining companies treat their employees?

5.  What do you think some advantages and disadvantages are to living in a mining company town?

6.  How do you think life in a mining town was compared to life in a big city during the Industrial Revolution?

The Chimney Sweeper- An Example of Hope

(From BlakeArchive.org)

The Chimney Sweeper

Songs of Innocence (1789)

When my mother died I was very young,
And my father sold me while yet my tongue
Could scarcely cry 'weep! 'weep! 'weep! 'weep!
So your chimneys I sweep, and in soot I sleep.

There's little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head,
That curled like a lamb's back, was shaved: so I said,
"Hush, Tom! never mind it, for when your head's bare,
You know that the soot cannot spoil your white hair."

And so he was quiet; and that very night,
As Tom was a-sleeping, he had such a sight, -
That thousands of sweepers, Dick, Joe, Ned, and Jack,
Were all of them locked up in coffins of black.

And by came an angel who had a bright key,
And he opened the coffins and set them all free;
Then down a green plain leaping, laughing, they run,
And wash in a river, and shine in the sun.

Then naked and white, all their bags left behind,
They rise upon clouds and sport in the wind;
And the angel told Tom, if he'd be a good boy,
He'd have God for his father, and never want joy.

And so Tom awoke; and we rose in the dark,
And got with our bags and our brushes to work.
Though the morning was cold, Tom was happy and warm;
So if all do their duty they need not fear harm.

- William Blake

1.  How does the speaker feel about working?  What is the tone of the speaker's message?

2.  What is the significance of the color white?

3.  What does the poem say about religion?

4.  What does the poem say about government?

5.  Does Blake portray child labor well?  (Compare and contrast to previous photographs)
6.  This was written in 1789.  The Industrial Revolution lasted for many, many years later.  What kind of conclusions can you draw about the way children were treated if this is how life was for them already in 1789.

The Chimney Sweeper- An Example of Sorrow

(From BlakeArchive.org)

The Chimney Sweeper

Songs of Experience (1794)

A little black thing in the snow,
Crying "'weep! 'weep!" in notes of woe!
"Where are thy father and mother? Say!"--
"They are both gone up to the church to pray.

"Because I was happy upon the heath,
And smiled among the winter's snow,
They clothed me in the clothes of death,
And taught me to sing the notes of woe.

"And because I am happy and dance and sing,
They think they have done me no injury,
And are gone to praise God and his priest and king,
Who make up a heaven of our misery."

- William Blake

1.  Who is the speaker in this poem?  What is tone of the speaker?

2.  What does the color black represent?

3.  How does this poem relate to "The Chimney Sweeper" from The Songs of Innocence?

4.  How is this poem different?

5.  What conclusions can be drawn about the author's view points on religion/ the Church?

6.  Do you think poetry and other works of literature affected child labor at this time?  Why or why not?

Child Labor = Slavery?

Editorial cartoon (1902) (Image from RationalRevolution.net)

1.  What are the adults doing in this cartoon?

2.  How are the adult men depicted?

3.  What are the children depicting in this photograph?

4.  What are some similarities between child labor and slavery?

5.  What are some differences?

6.  Do you think this editorial cartoon made an impact on the fight against child labor?  Why or why not?

What Supports Child Labor?

Image by Fredrikke Palmer (Women's Journal, 1916)



1.  What does the spider represent?

2.  What supports the spider's web?

3.  Why did the illustrator choose these specific words?

3.  What is the spider doing to the child? 

4.  How does this represent child labor?

5.  What is the illustrator's point of view?

Child Employment

(Graph found on the Economic History Association website)

1.  What year was this information published?

2.  What time span does this data cover?

3.  Why were there more females employed in textiles and dyeing than males?

4.  Why did females comprise more of the work force than males in both industries combined?

5.  How could a graph such as this be useful in the fight against child labor?

6.  Why were there more people worked in textiles and dyeing than in mining during this time?

Oppressive Child Labor Employers

Drawn by Lewis Wickes Hine (ca. 1912) (Image from Library of Congress)

1.  What does the giant hand represent?

2.  What statement is this editorial cartoon making?

3.  What position is this illustrator for concerning child labor?

4.  What details did the illustrator draw that adds to his political statement?

5.  Do editorial cartoons have any influence on politics?

6.  Why?  Can you give any examples (in the past or present day)?



First Aid to Miners

A man dressed in a rescue outfit.  The fact that mines used this sort of safety equipment was a major argument against the use of children in mines.  (Image from Library of Congress)

1.  What do you think is happening in this photograph?

2.  What kind of protective equipment is pictured?

3.  Where else have you seen masks like this before?

4.  What kind of impact would this photograph have on viewers at this time?

5.  What are some ways children might actually be helpful during a time of distress in a mine? 

6.  Are there any similarities and differences you notice between this picture and the recent mining incidents (Chilean miners, West Virginia)?

Massachusetts Leads the Way!

From the Massachusetts Labor Legislation (1901) (Document from Google Books)

1.  How many child labor laws existed before the laws in Massachusetts?

2.  Name any laws from question one.

3.  How much schooling was required for children to have under Massachusetts law?

4.  How does this compare with children's schooling today?

5.  How old must children be to work in factories?

6.  Do you agree with these regulations?  Why or why not?

Prevalence of Injuries

Neil Gallagher worked since the age of nine years old at a Pennsylvania mine for $0.83 a day.  His leg was crushed between two cars and had to be amputated.  Still, he received nothing from the mining company.  At the time this photograph was taken, Neil was living in New York City unemployed. (Image from Library of Congress)

1.  How is this photograph different from ones above?

2.  How will Neil's injury affect the rest of his life (especially professionally)?

3.  Do you believe companies should be held liable for injuries that happen on the job?

4.  Why do you think Neil moved to New York City from a mining town in Pennsylvania?

5.  The average wage in 1900 in the United States was $2.00 per day.  Do you believe $0.83 is a fair wage for a child working in the mines?  Why?

6.  Compare and contrast your life when you were nine years old to the life Neil lived at the age of nine. 



Abolish Child Slavery!

Girls carrying banners in English and Yiddish.  This photograph was most likely taken on May 1, 1909 in New York City.  (Image from Library of Congress)

1.  What emotions are these children expressing?

2.  What kind of event are these children participating in?
3.  What position do you believe the photographer has on child labor.  Why?

4.  Why do you think the signs are written in two different languages?

5.  How have the lives of children changed in the last century?
6.  How would the Industrial Revolution have been different if current child labor laws were in place back then?