CHILD labour reached new extremes in America during the Industrial Revolution, with children often being forced to work long hours under dangerous conditions for very little money.
The reasons for using young workers were many - kids were able into to fit into small spaces where adults couldn't go, they were easier to manage and, most importantly, they could be paid less.
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Photographer Lewis Hine's notes: 1908 August, The "Manly art of self-defense" Newsboys' Protective Association. Location: Cincinnati, OhioCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Photo shows: 1911 Jan, Group of Breaker Boys in \0439 Breaker, Hughestown Borough, Pennsylvania Coal Co. Location: Pittston, PennsylvaniaCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Photo shows: 1916 June, Street gang smoking - corner Margaret & Water Streets - 4:30 P.M. Location: Springfield, MassachusettsCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Photo shows: 1911 Feb, Manuel, the young shrimp-picker, five years old, and a mountain of child-labour oyster shells behind him. He worked last year. Understands not a word of English. Dunbar, Lopez, Dukate Company. Location: Biloxi, MississippiCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Photo shows: 1908 October, Lunch Time, Economy Glass Works, Morgantown, W. Va. Plenty more like this, inside. Location: Morgantown, West VirginiaCredit: Exclusivepix Media
In the late 19th and early 20th century, hundreds of thousand of kids were forced to leave school and take to the factories.
By 1900, 18 per cent of ALL American workers were under the age of 16. In 1870, there were 750,000 child workers.
Although some people fought for better working conditions, it wasn't fears about their safety which brought an end to child labour.
Photo shows: 1913 April, Eagle and Phoenix Mill. "Dinner-toters" waiting for the gate to open. This is carried on more in Columbus than in any other city I know, and by smaller children. Many of them are paid by the week for doing it, and carry, sometimes ten or more a day. They go around in the mill, often help tend to the machines, which often run at noon, and so learn the work. A teacher told me the mothers expect the children to learn this way, long before they are of proper age. Location: Columbus, GeorgiaCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Lewis wrote: 1914 October, Brown McDowell a 12-year-old usher in Princess Theatre. Works from 10 A.M. to 10 P.M. Can barely read; has reached the second grade in school only. Investigator reports little actual need for earnings. Location: Birmingham, AlabamaCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Photo shows: 1908 August, Marie Costa, Basket Seller, 605 Elm St., Sixth St. Market, Cincinnati. 9 P.M. Had been there since 10 A.M. Sister and friend help her. Location: Cincinnati, OhioCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Photo shows: 1908 August, A Little "Shaver," Indianapolis Newsboy, 41 inches high. Said he was 6 years old. Aug., 1908. Wit., E. N. Clopper. Location: Indianapolis, IndianaCredit: Exclusivepix Media
Photo shows: 1915 October, The 8 and 10 yr. old children here are working beets on a farm near Sterling, Colo, from 5:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. on rush days. Father said, "We have to get done.". Location: Sterling vicinity, ColoradoCredit: Exclusivepix Media
“His work — famously never touched up for effect — depicting children labouring in sweatshops, coal mines, textile mills, and on farms outraged the public and shamed the government into acting.
“His photographs provided the NCLC with the leverage it needed to advance the enactment of state and federal laws to protect the rights of children in the workplace, including the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which was the first major federal child labour law ever enacted.”
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