Sebastian Morales

Western Civ
Mr.Costa
Pd.2
Child Labor Research Paper

Child Labor has impacted the culture of Europe greatly. Child labor refers to work that is

mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and interferes with

their schooling by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school or by obliging them to leave

school premature. It can also be the use of children in an industry or business, especially when

illegal, and seen as inhumane. With the economic development, the cost of labor increasing.

Therefore, some corporations in order to save cost they are employing child labor. This resulted

in many children slipping and losing fingers or their foots, little girls might be scalped if their hair

got caught in the machines This took places in factories with small, light, and had quick fingers.

This is all thanks to the impact that child labor had during great depression, Industrial

Revolution, nationalism, economically, and educationally.

To begin with,The Great Depression was a worldwide depression that began in 1929

and lasted 10 years."Black Thursday" was the kickoff for this event which occurred on October

24, 1929 when 12.9 million stocks were sold in one day, triple the typical sum. Throughout the

following four days, costs fell by 23% and was later known as the share trading system crash of

1929 (iptv.org). Many farmer had lost their farms because of the depression and at the same

time of the depression, the "Dust Bowl" was taking place. During the Great Depression, not only

did people suffer from lack of jobs, money, homes, and food, but education for children suffered

as well (Pathways). Due to this many children were injured during the great depressions

because many families made their kids go to factories to make more money to support the

family.Child labor has impacted the culture of Europe through the Great Depression in many

ways. For example, Children worked in mills because they were small, light, and had quick
fingers. Children would slip and lose a finger or foot. Little girls might be scalped if their hair got

caught in the machines. Also only the wealthy could afford or find time for an education because

of this parents did not want children working or desperate for money. Children who did not want

to work so ran away and became known as "boxcar children."The girls had to work around big

sewing machines and boys had to handle large objects that were dangerous. The more children

that worked, the worse the conditions 1.5 to 2 million under 15 years old. Franklin D. Roosevelt

is often given credit for ending the Great Depression with the New Deal. The New Deal did not

end the Depression but it did help reduce suffering, provided jobs, food, and money, Gave

people hope and helped regain a sense of dignity. Also the Industrial production dropped again,

and the number of unemployed Americans went from 7.7 million in 1937 to 10.4 million in 1938.

Many say the Depression was ended by WWII. As the US started building up to help the Allies,

jobs became more abundant because of the war effort and with more and more jobs popping

up, the economy began to rise. By the end of WWII the Depression ended (khanacademy.org).

Child labor has impacted the culture of Europe through the Industrial Revolution. During

the Industrial Revolution, there was a high demand for labor. They were often made to work

long hours in dangerous factory conditions for very little pay.They often worked to help support

their families, but were forced to stop an education so they could work more. Children were

useful as laborers because their size allowed them to move in small spaces in factories or mines

where adults couldn’t fit (Discovering World History). Many young girls worked in match

factories. The harsh chemicals would often cause them lose their teeth. Boys were sometimes

dragged naked from their beds and sent to the factories only holding their clothes, to be put on

there. There were many punishment for coming late or not working, this was called "weighted".

It meant that the supervisors would tie a weight to the child's necks and they would have to drag

the weights up and down the isles of the factory for up to a whole hour. They would also get
extremely exhausted during the afternoons. The supervisors whipped the children to keep them

awake. There were people in this time period that strongly advocated the use or the

abolishment of child labor, or at least the improvement of conditions.Factory owners loved child

labor. The transition to new manufacturing processes in the period from about 1760 to

sometime between 1820 and 1840.

Child labor impacted the culture of Europe through the Politics. To begin with, Child labor

laws reached new limits and children worked in dangerous factories, long hours, and very little

pay (Dol.gov). They did not care how had they worked these children. If they made money, just

found someone to do the work. They needed money and even if that meant for kids to be

working. Agriculture accounts for 60 percent of child labor. Only one out of five children involved

in child labor is paid for their work.The majority of children in child labor perform unpaid family

work.Former child laborers are much more likely to have only primary education or less. Child

labor committees emphasized reform through state legislatures. There were also mass political

action, including investigations by experts, the widespread use of photography to dramatize the

poor conditions of children at work, pamphlets, and mass mailings to reach the public

(History.com). It depended heavily on the political climate in the nation as well as developments

that reduced the need or desirability of child labor. New laws implemented like “1833 Factory

Act”, this law basically helped shape Europe’s future. This law stated that there will be no

children workers under nine years of age, Employers must have an age certificate for their child

worker, Children of 9-13 years to work no more than nine hours a day, Children of 13-18 years

to work no more than 12 hours a day,Children are not to work at night & Two hours schooling

each day for children. Thanks to this law and many laws similar to this one gave jobs a filter to

working, which is good for children and they also made the legal age of 16 so most kids could

pursue and education and be more prepared for their future.

 Child labor impacted the culture of Europe economically. Economy is an area of the

production, distribution, or trade, and consumption of goods and services by different agents,

this means that the area of productions were kids. There was a tremendous expansion of

American industry in the last quarter of the nineteenth century that increased the jobs suitable

for children (History.com).They had to put in all the hours to help the nation’s economy.Child

labour increased households income and probability of survival in the short term, But in the long

run child labor perpetuates household poverty through lower human capital (Eldis.org). Also in

the long run child labour perpetuates poverty through enhanced fertility. Child labor provides

poor families with the income they need for their survival. It also lessens income inequality, by

raising the income of those at the bottom of the distribution (Dailymail). There was also a rise in

the percentage of children ten to fifteen years of age who were gainfully employed. Young

persons who worked as children (up to the age of 15) are more likely to be in low-paying jobs.

Children forced by their household circumstances or other factors to leave school prior to their

fifteenth birthday are less likely to ever find jobs and those who do find jobs take much longer to

do so. Food, clothes & everyday supplies were increasingly inflated and children went to work to

earn money to buy those needs(Moneysense.ca.) They also worked 60 hours a week and got

paid $0.40 - $1.10 a night.

Child labor impacted the culture of Europe through education. Education is probably the

most important thing to any nation, and this is due to Europe for all the child labor. They

wouldn’t allow kids to go to school and even made them drop out so they can work. Work was

the main priority, education came after work. schools were expensive and only available to

wealthy people or kids for a few months each year. Also there was no restrictions on how old a

child had to be in order to work, so in most cases, the sooner the better. While the children

worked they sometimes got hurt,sick, and mistreated. Kids got stuck with probably the worst
working conditions. Factory job sled to many injuries and sometimes death. Machines ran so

rapidly that some of the children’s body parts were caught on them. Out on the farms children

were forced to work in extreme temperatures and carry heavy loads due to this many children

were limited to education. The more students the drop out of school and leave the educational

world have a much higher chance of becoming victims of child labor because parents believe it

is better to start the work path then waist time in school when there are jobs filling up with no

available space.Also, Students were dropping out of school younger and younger. This

happened because they thought that the money that they were getting at the moment would be

their future and many parents didn’t see the effect that not having an education can do for their

kids. Throughout the times of child labor, laws started being passed that affected children’s

education greatly. Laws were being passed, saying that the children under the age of 15 had to

attend 3 months of school in a year(bls.gov).They also established a minimum wage for labor

and minimal requirements for school attendance. Later on laws become more threatening to the

idea and act of child labor. Eventually, children were prohibited from being able to take place in

any type of employment. From this happening children were able to get a proper education.

In Conclusions, Child Labor has impacted the culture of Europe greatly because it has

impacted the culture of Europe through the great depression, Industrial Revolution, nationalism,

economically, and educationally. These are all very important because not only did it shape

Europe and made it stronger it also showed all other nations how important historic events are

while reshaping a nation. For example, the great depression lasted 10 years, but it made people

to realize that child labor is not the correct thing to do. Also, educationally there was a growth of

people enrolling back in school instead of being at the factories.

 Work Cited-

“Child Labor in Factories During the Industrial Revolution.” ​Navigation Tools,​

www2.needham.k12.ma.us/nhs/cur/Baker_00/2002_p7/ak_p7/childlabor.html.

“FDR and the Great Depression.” ​Khan Academy,​ Khan Academy,

www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-us-history/period-7/apush-great-depression/a/frankl

in-delano-roosevelt-as-president.

“FDR and the Great Depression.” ​Khan Academy,​ Khan Academy,

www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-us-history/period-7/apush-great-depression/a/frankl

in-delano-roosevelt-as-president.

History.com Staff. “Child Labor.” ​History.com​, A&E Television Networks, 2009,

www.history.com/topics/child-labor.

“The Great Depression Hits Farms and Cities in the 1930s.” ​IPTV​, 12 Feb. 2018,

www.iptv.org/iowapathways/mypath/great-depression-hits-farms-and-cities-1930s​.

“Child Labor Facts | GoodWeave.” Child Labor Laws & Resources -International Laws |

GoodWeave, goodweave.org/the-issue/.

“Wage and Hour Division (WHD).” ​United States Department of Labor,​

www.dol.gov/whd/state/agriemp2.htm.
"Britain's child slaves." dailymail. N.p., 17 2010.

<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1312764/Britains-child-slaves-New-book-says-

misery-helped-forge-Britain.html>.

“Child Labor Education chapter2.Pdf.” ​Www.bls.gov​, 23 Apr. 2007,

www.bls.gov/opub/rylf/pdf/chapter2.pdf.