Child Labor in Europe

Essay by urvit21High School, 11th gradeA+, April 2005

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It is clear that the factory workers went through extremely tough conditions while working, however the industrial revolution would not have been nearly as successful without the grueling labor that the workers endured. The Industrial Revolution changed almost every aspect of the middle class's previous known lives for the better of the Industrial Revolution and the factory owners. The family got completely changed, most people above the age of 6 going to work in the factory. There was not much family time during the industrial revolution, because most members might be working different shifts of around sixteen hours everyday (Pg. 207?). Previous to the Industrial Revolution it was rare to see the husband working that long, let alone his twelve year old daughters, sons, and wife. However, with such long work hours it is obvious that this helped the revolution. Working 16 hours a day produces many more products, which leads to having more wealth for the country which helps the country, as well as the revolution, grow faster and more efficiently.

But it wasn't just the fact that the workers put so many hours into their jobs, it was also the amount of energy that the workers, and especially the children, were forced to put in. During the revolution, one of the children working in a factory was asked what made the watchman so mad, which forced him to beat the children brutally, and she replied, "They were to slow" (Pg 209?). This demonstrates that the children were forced to put in all the energy they had every minute on the job. Though this was a very cruel thing to do, and surly made the children dread work, it did force them to always work harder. Just like working longer shifts, working harder made the factory workers more efficient...