Child Labor

1. Child Labor

2. MillWorker • By 1900, 1 in 4 mill workers was under the age of 16 • The children employees were often orphans • They worked and lived at the mill • They worked the same hours as adults

3. They did jobs that required quick feet and small hands rather than skill. Jobs like… • Changing the spools when they were full • Running the automatic spinning machines • sweeping • Mill work was dangerous, children could… • be scalped when their hair got caught in the machines • have their hands crushed by the machines • fall into the machines and die

4. Newsie • Newsies were not usually orphans, but were almost always poor or homeless • They bought 100 papers for 50 ₵ then sold then at little profit • They could not refund the papers they bought, so they had to choose which papers to sell with care • They would scout out the best places in town to sell and make it their territory • They often faked injuries or illness • Real injuries were considered helpful for work

6. Miner • Most mines were located in the middle and south in the country • Children did not do the actual mining • Their jobs included… • Opening the trap doors for the mining carts • Carrying coal out of the mine • Sorting coal from slate

7. Dangers of mining were… • Mine collapses • Having their arms ripped off by carts • Lung diseases • “Red Tips” a skin condition caused by the sulfur in coal. It causes fingers to be swollen and burns the top layer of skin off

8. Seafood Worker • Child seafood workers often lived in workhouses with their parents • The day lasted from 3:30 to 5:00 • Jobs included… • Shelling oysters & shrimp • Filleting fish • canning • Dangers were… • The knives used • Bacteria • Irritation from the salt