Introduction
Even though children have been considered to be apprentices and servants throughout most of the human historical time, in the 19th century, child labor had reached new extremes, especially during the industrial revolution. 1 During this period, children worked for long hours in conditions that were considered to be dangerous and were often given very little money. The main reasons for the increase in child labor included the fact that their small sizes could allow them to move through small spaces in the mines or factories where adults could not fit. They mainly worked so that they can support their families and thus were expected to forgo their education. 2 However, the nineteenth-century reformers aimed at improving workers’ working conditions and restricting child labor despite the many reasons that contributed to the widespread use of these laborers. 3
Factors that contributed to the widespread use of child labor
Child labor was one of the commonest sources of labor in the 19th century, especially during the industrial revolution. 4 The main reasons that contributed to the wide spread use of children were the fact that children were easier to control and manage as compared to adults. In addition, they could be paid less as they were not aware of what they needed to be paid for work done and were desperate to support their families. 5 It also means that poverty and high level of unemployment also contributed to the widespread use of child labor. Families depended on children to improve their chances of getting basic necessities. 6 During this period, there was also no access to compulsory free education meaning that most families, especially those from poor families were not able to put their children in schools. 7 It thus limited their future opportunities and that of their communities. In addition, most parents who engaged their children in child labor were illiterate leading to its increase. A parent, who is not educated, never realizes its harmful effects. During this period, some parents had the false belief that working made their children perfect and mature as they are able to take care of the family. Some parents even sent the children to work without taking into consideration their age. 8
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Another factor that increased the use of child labor is the expansion of the American Industry in the last phase of the nineteenth century. Children who were engaged in these jobs were mainly between the ages of ten and fifteen years. 9 Children were not only employed in the factories but also in the southern cotton mills which allowed children who were even below fifteen years. However, the horrendous conditions and the bad pay that children were exposed to, brought the issue to the attention of the public. 10 In turn, efforts were put in place to eliminate or regulate child labor, which has, in turn, become the main feature of social reforms in many countries around the world since 1900.
Conclusion
Child labor is considered to be one of the most vital issues that affected the society in the 19th century and is also in existence in some countries today. However, the reasons why child labor was common in the 19th century was the fact that they provided cheap labor and were easy to control and manage. In addition, poor families depended on them to provide for the family and did not value education. In addition, with the industrial revolution, there was increased demand for labor which also provided children with the opportunity to work. However, the conditions in which children worked under in terms of low wages and poor working condition made people reconsider their involvement in jobs.
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