Child Labor During the Industrial Revolution

Many families were so poor during the Industrial Revolution
time period that they had to send their children to work also.
Women and children made very low wages compared to men. Child
labor was at its peak during this time.
The youngest children in the textile factories were usually
employed as scavengers and piecers. Children at the age of five and
six would work sometimes up to eighteen hours a day under
dangerous conditions at factories.

Scavengers

Scavengers had to pick up the loose cotton from under the
machinery. This was extremely dangerous as the children were
expected to carry out the task while the machine was still working.
They would also would have to take a brush and sweep under the
wheels. The younger children were very terrified of the whirling
motion of the machines and the loud noises. They were often very
jerky and were injured frequently. The children would inhale dust
and fumes from under the machine which half suffocated them.
Their backs constantly ached from bending over all day, but if they
ever tried to rest of sit down they were severely beaten and
whipped.

Peicers

The peicers, either boys or girls, walk along the machine as it
moves back and forth, catching up the broken threads and skillfully
putting them back together. They also would have to clean oil and
dust from under the machines. These children were constantly in
motion. The quickness of the machines gave them no time to stop
and rest even for a few seconds.



Children who were late for work were severely punished. They
would also have money deducted from their wages. Time-keeping
was also a problem for families who could not afford to buy a clock.
In most factories workers weren't allowed to wear watches. This is
how they kept their workers for such long hours and giving them
such little wages. Most workers arrived at 5:00 A.M. and didn't
leave until 10:00 P.M. The masters would often put the clock
forward in the morning and back at night. Though this was known,
many were afraid to say anything for fear of punishment.