Children's Rights

         Children's rights movements began in the late 1800s.  During the 19^th century children as young as the age of 5 were working very hard adult jobs for small fees.   If they got seriously injured no one really helped them. Luckily, people like Mother Jonas and Jacob Riis was there to help them.

             Child Labor was very unjust.  One political injustice was they had no protection at all.  If a child got hurt on the job it was there own problem.  One girl got her hair caught in a machine ripping all her hair and her scalp off.  Her parents had to pay for her injury leaving them with no money. Plus they lost money because their daughter couldn't work anymore.  The conditions were horrible.

          A lot of the children were not educated because they were to busy working.  If they did go to school they starved.  If they worked the conditions were horrible and they got very little pay.  If they got hurt or injured on the job the boss would just fire them.  Children shouldn't have these jobs.

         Mother Jones was a big help to children's rights.  She was the leader of the children's rights movement.  She marched from Philadelphia to New York with the kids.   Jacob Riis took pictures of the children in parade so people will believe what was going on.  After the parade the government realized how horrible these conditions were.  President Taft forced factory owners to raise salaries and pay overtime. 

          It took such a long time for kids to get there rights.  Luckily people like Mother Jonas and Jacob Riis were there help these children.