Child labor is when children work for long hours for little pay. The working conditions are unsafe and unhealthy. The Industrial Revolution started in the 1870’s. Children had to work more than they went to school.  If accidents occurred in the factories their parents would send them back because most of the time they relied on the child’s money. Children were treated unfairly and worked long hours. Children and adults decided to make a movement to  help children get civil rights. In 1886 Jacob Riis exposed the horrible life of families in tenements, mines and factories. As a result, New York passed the Factory Act.  The actions of many people made this movement successful. 

The injustice in 1870 was that factory owners were finding ways to forge children’s work papers. In 1886 7-8 year old children were working in coalmines and factories with very poor sunlight. Oftentimes children were losing limbs, hands and fingers. Children were doing adult labor. 1899 children were selling newspapers for low pay. But the company raised the price of the newspapers so it was harder for them to get a decent profit.

Children and adults used many methods to resist child labor. Because of the labor children were hunch back and missing body parts, Mother Jones was Surprise and because of this they marched from Philadelphia to New York. 23,000 children and it took them 23 days to get there, but when they finally got there President Roosevelt refused to see them. Nothing was gained from this.

In the end children won their rights and they were treated fairly and equally. They were no longer doing dangerous work. This movement was important because you get to learn what children had to go through just so children today can have a better education.