The Plight of Victorian Street Children: Neglect and Survival

👥Industrial Revolution and population growth led to neglected street children in Victorian Britain.

💔Lack of birth control and the need for more family members to contribute to the household were reasons for having large numbers of children.

🏙️Street children faced a short childhood and were soon forced into hard work or a life of crime on the streets.

👕Street children survived by adapting to degradation, including begging and scavenging for food.

🏠The horrific conditions in which street children lived made the harsh streets of London seem like a better alternative.

What were the reasons behind the high number of street children in Victorian Britain?

—The high number of street children in Victorian Britain was due to factors such as lack of birth control and the need for more family members to contribute to the household income.

How did street children survive on the streets?

—Street children survived by adapting to their harsh environment. They resorted to begging and scavenging for food, often from market waste.

What were the living conditions like for street children in Victorian Britain?

—Street children lived in deplorable conditions, exposed to crime, poor sanitation, and overwhelming poverty. Their bodies and minds suffered from malnutrition and bad food.

Why did street children prefer the streets of London over their homes?

—The homes of street children were often hovels, with squalid living conditions and neglectful guardianship. The streets of London, although harsh, offered the possibility of survival and freedom from their miserable lives.

What were the societal reasons for having large numbers of children in Victorian Britain?

—In Victorian Britain, there was a lack of birth control methods, and having more children meant more family members contributing to the household income. Additionally, large families were considered essential for economic stability and support in old age.

00:00During the Industrial Revolution, Victorian Britain experienced a surge in population growth, leading to a large number of neglected street children.

00:19The societal reasons for having large numbers of children included a lack of birth control and the need for more family members to contribute to the household income.

00:35Street children faced a short childhood and were soon forced into hard work or a life of crime on the streets.

00:46Street children survived by adapting to degradation, including begging and scavenging for food.

01:26The horrific conditions in which street children lived made the harsh streets of London seem like a better alternative.