The Horrors of Child Labor in the Textile Mills of 19th Century America

⚠️Child labor was just as common in North America as it was in England during the Industrial Revolution.

🏭Children as young as five or six years old worked in textile mills, often through the night.

💔Child laborers worked in inhumane conditions, enduring noise, humidity, and the risk of injury.

💰Child labor was driven by the demand for cheap labor, with children working long hours for meager wages.

🛠️Attempts to legislate against child labor faced opposition from mill owners and the prevalence of false work certificates.

Where was child labor most prevalent in North America?

—Child labor in textile mills was most prevalent in the southern states, particularly in Alabama.

How did children as young as five or six work through the night?

—Children in textile mills were expected to work long, backbreaking shifts, contributing to the profits of mill owners.

What were the conditions like for child laborers in textile mills?

—Child laborers faced harsh conditions, including noise, humidity, and the constant risk of injury.

Why were children employed as cheap labor?

—Children were employed as cheap labor due to the demand for low-cost workers in the textile industry.

How did mill owners evade laws against child labor?

—Mill owners often obtained false work certificates, misrepresenting the age of child workers and enabling their employment.

00:00Child labor in North America's textile mills was as prevalent as in England during the Industrial Revolution.

00:11Children as young as five or six years old worked long hours in textile mills, often through the night.

00:14Child laborers endured inhumane conditions, including noise, humidity, and the risk of injury.

00:24Child labor was driven by the demand for cheap labor, with children receiving meager wages.

00:32Attempts to legislate against child labor faced opposition from mill owners and the prevalence of false work certificates.