Why were children often hired to work in factories during the Industrial Revolution?
A.)There were no schools for children who lived in the city, so factory owners hired them so they had something to do during the day
B.)Children could fit into tight spaces between machines and could be paid smaller wages, so factory owners hired them
C.)Factories were too dangerous for women to work in, so factory owners hired children instead.
D.)Men were too busy on the family farm to work in factories, so factory owners needed to hire children.
B.) Children could fit into tight spaces between machines and could be paid smaller wages, so factory owners hired them
The correct answer is B.) Children could fit into tight spaces between machines and could be paid smaller wages, so factory owners hired them.
During the Industrial Revolution, factory owners often hired children to work in factories for several reasons. One such reason was that children had smaller bodies and could fit into tight spaces between machines, where adults couldn't easily reach. This allowed them to perform tasks that required nimble movements or accessing hard-to-reach areas.
Furthermore, children could be paid smaller wages compared to adult workers. Factory owners took advantage of this and offered lower pay to children, making it economically beneficial for them to employ child labor.
It's important to note that the working conditions for children during that time were often harsh and dangerous. Children were subjected to long working hours, including night shifts, and exposed to hazardous environments. Fortunately, as social reforms progressed, efforts were made to improve child labor laws and promote education, leading to the eventual decline of child labor in factories.