"Child labor" is, generally speaking, work for children that harms them or exploits them in some way (physically, mentally, morally, or by blocking access to education). However, there is no universally accepted definition of "child labor,” varying definitions of the term a

Three hundred years after the middle ages ended, in eighteenth century England, new discoveries in science and technology initiated a trend that would change society forever: the industrial revolution. The inventions during the industrial revolution transformed England from a peasant society to an industrial one, and in this new society child labor was used extensively (Greene p. 48-50). As the number of factories in England grew, so did the number of people needed to tend them. Since children, especially children of the poor, were abundant and easy to replace, conditions were perfect for exploitation. Sadique, a carpet master, told why he liked to hire boys aged seven to ten, “[They’re] wonderfully obedient—they’d work around the clock if I asked them. I hire them first and foremost because they’re economical. For what I’d pay one second class adult weaver I can get three boys, sometimes four who can produce first class rugs in no time” (Greene p. 39).

At first, the general population believed that employing children was beneficial to society. Work kept them out of trouble, gave them self-reliance, and provided extra money for their families. However, employing children created new hardships because as more children went to work, more adults lost their jobs since children could be hired for much less money (Greene p. 53-56). An agricultural employer of children stated that he liked to hire children because “children are cheaper to run than tractors and smarter than oxen” (Greene p. 40). When children entered the labor market, they stimulated adult unemployment creating a vicious cycle. More and more parents were forced to send their children into the labor market to avoid starvation.

Around 1800, a growing number of enlightened people in England began speaking out against child labor. In 1802, Parliament passed the first law regulating child labor, but the law was not enforced and applied only to children dependent upon charity (ILO). By 1832, almost 40% of factory workers were children (Parker p. 55). It was not until late in the nineteenth century that things began to improve for children. In 1886, the Factory act

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