Hi I am Brandon R. and I am in period 6, 20th Century U.S. History taught by Mr. Salvucci. Child Labor in the 20th Century was very common. Child Labor is children working in the work force, those between the ages of 7 to 15 years old. There were two problems with child labor. The first problem quoted by Florence Kelley is that “children are found in the greatest number where the conditions are most dangerous to life and health.” Children who worked in the tobacco industry suffered from nicotine poisoning. Children who worked in clothing factories suffered from spinal curvature from hunching over sewing machines 48 hours a week. Children who worked in paint factories suffered from breathing arsenic toxic fumes. The second problem quoted by Florence Kelley is that “children, even young girls were employed 13 hours a day and 15 hours on Saturday.” Children who work these hours do not spend much time with their family and are missing out on everyday life.
Women viewed the ways of child labor and tried to make a difference. One woman, Florence Kelley, who was secretary of the National Consumers League, pressed the federal government to outlaw the use of child labor due to the working conditions that children were exposed to. Kelley helped organize consumer boycotts of goods produced by children or by workers in unsanitary or dangerous conditions. This initiative worked because child labor was prohibited in Illinois in 1893. This initiative also worked due to the National Consumers League investigating working conditions in 1899, which then changed working conditions so working can be safe and danger free.