INTRODUCTION | child-slavery

Dating back to the 18th century England, the Industrial Revolution is an extremely important part of history and modern day techology.

Many people lived in poverty throught this period. They struggled to take care of their families, and as a result, all members of the family older than 3 had to work to generate enough income to survive in the fast-growing economy. Child labour was cheap for factory owners because they would work hard for the long hours for the little pay they woud receive.

Child labour became the main source of work during the Industrial Revolution. They would work long, hard hours in harsh and dangerous conditions for the low pay they were given. They were not treated fairly and many of the children suffered from the diseases in the workplace.

Throughout the workplace, conditions were harsh. Heavy, fast moving machinery and toxic chemicals in factories were only some of the challenges faced during the day. If a product got caught, a child would have to risk losing a limb because there was no way to stop the movement of the machine. Often, children would be harmed through this losing a leg, arm, hand, finger, and so on. However, in some cases, a child would lose their own life. In agriculture, working long, hard hours in fields was no easier. Children were expected to lift and pull more than their own weight.

Labour unions fought to stop child labour and demanded equality and fairness in the workplace.

Sugar beet factory. 19th century artwork of machinery and workers at a sugar beet factory. Sugar beet is a crop harvested for its extreme sugar content. The roots are chopped and boiled in water. This process is used to remove a sugary juice that will later, through other steps, produce sugar. The world's first sugar beet factory opened in 1801 in Silesia, which is now Poland. This peice of artwork is taken from Grands Hommes et Grands Faits de l'Industrie (Great Men and Great Facts of Industry), France, in approx. 1880.