Child Labor And Immigration Flashcards
How many children under 16 were working in mines and factories by the early 1900s
Over 1 million
Why did companies want kids to work?
They could be paid less and used more
Why did parents want their children to work
- Families needed money
- Thought hard work would build character
- Believed once children knew basic English + Math they could go to work
Breaker Boys
A coal-mining worker whose job as to desperate impurities from coal
Newsies
Newspaper Carriers (boys)
Other jobs for boys
Tobacco picker, shrimp picker, oyster shuckers
Cigar Boys
Sold cigars like Newsies and became addicted because people would buy cigars and give it to them
1938 Fair Labor Standard Act
Today children under 16 have limited hours and you have to be over 18 to do dangerous contact
Mary Harris “Mother Jones”
Union leader who wanted to improve life of workers, especially children and miners
Used speeches to pay unions
Lost all of her family to yellow fever
Opened a dress shop and sympathized for poor workers,but never said anything
Lost her shop to Great Chicago Fire and joined Knights of Labor
“Most dangerous woman in America”
Jailed 7 times
Won a meeting with Rockefeller- 8hr workday + better conditions
Old Immigrants
From Northern and Western Europe
Ireland, Great Britain, Germany
1840s-1890
New Immigrants
From Southern and Eastern Europe
Italy, Poland, Hungary
Late 1800s
Push Factors
Reason people wanted to leave their countries
1- overpopulation
2- famine
3- scarcity of arable land
4- deprived of freedom of religion
Pull factors
Reasons people wanted to go to America
1- free democratic society
2- jobs
3- natural resources, arable land
4- ‘American Letters’
‘American Letters’
Letters sent to countries, usually publicly announced, talking about how great America was. Usually overexaggerated by people in America to get their family to emigrate
Conditions of travel for Immigrants
UNHEALTHY!