Child Labor (historical documents)

By the early 19th century, industrialization was growing in the United States. Many women and
children were hired to work in the new factories that were springing up, in part because they could be
paid lower wages than men. By the early 1800s children between 7 and 12 years old accounted for
one-third of the factory workforce. By the 1820s, state governments and community groups had
become concerned about working conditions for children in factories, but had not yet begun to create
protective laws. The following report from the education committee of the Massachusetts Senate,
written in 1825, details child labor in factories and expresses concern about the childrens lack of
education. The second report, which appeared in a workers publication in 1835, documents childrens
low pay and grueling work schedule in Paterson, New Jersey, a manufacturing center.
Child Labor
1. The Education Committee of the Massachusetts Senate, 1825
The Committee on Education to whom was referred so much of His Excellency's speech as
related to that subject and to whom were also referred the returns made to the Secretary's office
by virtue of a resolve passed on the 26 Feby last in relation to children employed in factories
have had the same under consideration and ask leave to report that the[y] cordially unite in the
sentiments expressed by His Excellency, and solemnly recognized by our venerable ancestors in
the charter of their rights, "that wisdom & learning as well as virtue, diffused generally among
the people, are necessary to the preservation of their rights and liberties."
The importance of this sentiment cannot be too sensibly felt in a Republic, which depends for its
annual organization, its existence, and efficiency, on the ability of the people to understand, and
their virtue to preserve the inestimable advantages of free government. Nor can it be doubted that
our fellow citizens of the present day, imbibing the principles of a virtuous ancestry, will feel
bound to "preserve, improve, and extend public provisions for the education of children &
youth." The provisions already made for primary schools, the liberal grants for Academies & the
generous donations bestowed on the University & Colleges of this Commonwealth relieve the
community from any apprehension that this great interest can for a moment be neglected.
The Committee are not aware that any interposition by the Legislature at present is necessary in
this regard, but they deem it important that its members in their private & public capacity should
see that the requirements of existing laws are respected & enforced.
There are however two branches of the great business of Education which have recently acquired
consequence and in the opinion of this Committee well deserve very serious consideration. The
first is the establishment of an Institution for the education of the laboring classes in the practical
Arts & Sciences.
The other department, referred to, embraces the care of young persons engaged in manufacturing
establishments, whose constant occupation in their daily tasks, may gather round them a rust of
ignorance as to all other concerns.
The Committee are happy to coincide with his Excellency that an "American sentiment" prevails
throughout the country, to which these establishments are not exceptions, & which prevents them
from being dangerous "to the moral habits & chaste manners" of the people.
Still however this is a subject always deserving the parental care of a vigilant government, and
the Come[mittee] are happy to find it has not escaped the attention of the Legislature. By the
resolve of the last session of the General Court first above mentioned the Selectmen of every
town in this Comth & the Mayor & Aldermen of the City of Boston were instructed to send to
the office of the Secretary of the Comth a statement of the number of persons under sixteen years
of age employed by any incorporated Manufactoring Compy within their town or city setting
forth the length of time during which they are usually kept at work & the opportunities allowed
& means provided for their education. The returns made in pursuance thereof have been laid
before this Committee and are very interesting documents.
But inasmuch as the Resolve related only to incorporated Institutions, the returns do not present
the full number of children engaged in manufactories.
It appears however that the time of employment is generally twelve or thirteen hours each day,
excepting the Sabbath, which leaves little opportunity for daily instruction. Regard is paid to the
instruction of these Juvenile laborers as opportunity permits, but some further legislative
provisions may hereafter become necessary, that the children who are at a future day to become
proprietors of these establishments, or at least greatly to influence their affairs, may not be
subjected to too great devotion to pecuniary interest at the risk of more than an equivalent injury
in the neglect of intellectual improvement.
The committee are not prepared to submit any specific propositions which could be acted upon at
the present session, they therefore report that the further consideration of said returns be referred
to the next session of this general Court. For the Committee, J. T. Austin, In Senate, June 15,
1825.
Children Employed In Manufactories
Boys (354)
Girls (584)
Total (928)
2. Child Labor at Paterson, N.J., 1835
Schenck & Hewson, Newark Delegates.
Gentlemen, The accompanying document is in reply to the queries proposed by yourselves and
Mr. Scott of New York, in relation to the present state of the population of this town. Though
from the shortness of the time allowed us we could not make that information perfectly
satisfactorily, yet we have endeavored to be within the bounds of truth than risk the shadow of a
chance of exceeding it. With great respect we subscribe ourselves, yours sincerely,
John Tilby,
John K. Flood.
Question 1st. What number of mills are idle in consequence of the strike? Answer. The number
is 19 cotton mills, and 1 woolen factory.
Question 2d. What number of children are idle in consequence of the strike? Answer. It would
take some weeks to ascertain the number of minors; the whole number employed in these
factories, is from 19 to 20 hundred; the number of hand-loom weavers and others dependent on
the factories would swell the amount of persons thrown out of work, much more.
Questions 3 and 4. What number of children are under 12 years? What number are over 12
years? Answer. We have placed these two queries together, because, like the question above, we
could not ascertain without an actual personal survey of the town. Doctor Fisher, who formerly
took the census, and which he has said employed him nearly six weeks, reported in 1832, the
whole number of population under 16 years of age, at 3949; we consider it would be within
compass to take the sixth part as engaged in manufacturingsay 600 under 16 years.
Question 5. What average compensation for those under 12? Answer. From 50 cents to $1.75 per
weekaverage $1.12.
Question 6. What average compensation for those over 12? Answer. Many of those work by the
piece, as rulers, weavers, warpers, &c. As near as we can learn, the average is $2.12 per week. In
reference to this question, we send you two statements on oath of the wages obtained by the
individuals in those two families (five in each) in one of which you will see they are all over 12
years and average $2.10. In this statement we do not include spinners and sub bosses, but only
such as may be considered minors among the male sex; but also includes among the females,
many grown women.
Question 7. What time do they commence work in summer? What time do they quit in the
evening? Answer. From sunrise to sunset from March first to October 1st.
Question 8. What time is allowed for breakfast? Answer. In summer, half an hour. From October
1st to the 15th March, no time allowed. The hands breakfast by candlelight before going to work.
Question 9. What time is allowed for dinner? Answer. Three quarters of an hour, the year round.
Question 11. The same queries in reference to the winter season. Answer. From October 1st to
March 1st, commence at daylight to quit at 8 o'clock; in which some mills are very precise;
others overrun that time, probably on account of the difference of clocks.
Question 12. What number are in destitute circumstances? Answer. In consequence of the strike,
many have left the town. The whole who remain may be said to be destitute. Doctor Fisher in his
last census, 1831, stated the number of widows to be 163, and the amount of their families to be
834. Now these are precisely the class of persons who cannot remove in case of a strike, or of
being thrown out of work from any other cause; and as the town was more populous as well as
more prosperous at the commencement of the strike, than it was in 1832, being the time of
cholera, we believe we are within compass to say there are 1000 persons in need of assistance.
State of New Jersey, Essex County, ss.
Personally appeared before me, John K. Flood, one of the Justices of the Peace for said county,
Joseph D. Edwards, who being duly sworn on his oath, doth depose and say that he had five
children working in the factories at the time of the present "strike" for a reduction of the hours of
labor, that their ages were about as follows, viz: one 20 years of age, one 18, one 14, one 12, and
one 10that four were girls and received two dollars per week, [except] the one aged 10
forty-four cents per week, that one was a boy aged about 12 who received one dollar and twenty-
five cents per week. Joseph D. Edwards.
Personally appeared before me, John K. Flood, William H. Campbell, who, being duly sworn
doth depose and say that he had five children (one of which was a boarder) working in the
factories at the time of the present strike for a reduction of the hours of labor, whose ages were
about as follows, viz: one 18, one 19, one 15, one 13 and one 13that the one aged 19 received
two dollars and twenty-five cents per week; the one aged 15, two dollars per week; the one aged
13 one dollar and fifty cents per week; that two were girls, aged 18 and 13, that the one aged 18
received two dollars and seventy-five cents, and the one aged 13, two dollars per week, and
further saith not.
Source: Articles from Bibliobase edited by Michael A. Bellesiles. Copyright 1998 by
Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

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