Children in the Industrial Revolution

Children in the Industrial Revolution — page 1

Children in the Industrial Revolution — page 2 — CHAPTER 1 A NATION TRANSFORMED In the second half of the 1700s the Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain Before the revolution most manufacturing happened in families homes But now large machines in factories could produce goods faster and in greater amounts This process was known as industrialization Toward the end of the 1700s the Industrial Revolution arrived in the United States The first successful US cotton factory was built in Pawtucket Rhode Island in 1793 5

Children in the Industrial Revolution — page 3 — Before the revolution most Americans lives revolved around farming But now millions of workers moved to urban areas to work in factories Cities grew quickly Increased immigration to the United States also caused cities to IMMIGRANTS IN THE UNITED STATES Top country of birth among US immigrants 1880 CHINA CHINA CANADA CHINA UNITED KINGDOM CHINA UNITED KINGDOM CHINA UNITED KINGDOM MEXICO MEXICO PACIFIC OCEAN Area was a territory in 1880 but had similar boundaries when it became a state NO DATA GERMANY CANADA CANADA CANADA IRELAND GERMANY IRELAND GERMANY GERMANY GERMANY GERMANY IRELAND IRELAND WASHINGTON DC NO DATA MEXICO IRELAND GERMANY GERMANY IRELAND W N S E CUBA GULF OF MEXICO 6

Children in the Industrial Revolution — page 4 — grow Between 1880 and 1920 the country’s immigrant population rose from 7 million to nearly 14 million Many immigrants found jobs in factories including children As the Industrial Revolution grew several states created child labor laws These laws limited the hours that children could work They also set a minimum working age for children However the laws were not strictly enforced Some parents lied about their children’s ages so they would be allowed to work By 1900 approximately 20 percent of US children had joined the workforce Millions of children found jobs instead of going to school They worked long hours in poor conditions to help support their families Across the United States in mills mines shipyards and more the children of the Industrial Revolution went to work 7

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