Child labour in the British Industrial Revolution

When the Industrial Revolution began, manufacturers used children as a workforce. Children often worked the same 12 hour shifts as adults. By the 1820s, 50% of English workers were under the age of 20. Children were the cheapest labour at the time. A child worker was 80% cheaper than a man and 50% cheaper than a woman.

From 1800 to 1850, children made up 20-50% of the mining workforce.

Children made up 33% of factory workers.

Child labour laws

Main article: Child labour law

• The Health and Morals of Apprentices Act 1802 stipulated child apprentices shouldn't work more then 12 hours a day, must be given a basic education, and must attend church services church twice a month. The law was ineffective because of it failed to provide for enforcement.

• The Cotton Mills and Factories Act 1819 limited work to children 9 years old or older, and children couldn't work more then 12 hours a day if they weren't 16 years old or older. It also set possible working hours as between 6 am and 9 pm.

• The 1833 Factory Act stipulated that no child under the age of 9 could be legally employed, children 9 to 13 years old couldn't work more then 8 hours, and children 14 to 18 couldn't work more then 12 hours a day, children couldn't work at night, children needed to attend a minimum of 2 hours of education a day, employers needed age certificates for their workers. It also appointed four factory inspectors to enforce the law. A report by the Factory inspectors in 1835 stated child labour in child factory in textile factories decreased by 50%.

• The Mines and Collieries Act 1842 stipulated no child under 10 years old could be employed in any underground work.