The most common places that children were put to work were textile factories, coal mills, farms, and other various factories. The reason that children were put to work in these environments is primarily due to machines. They were responsible for keeping the machines running smoothly, even if it put them in danger.

In textile mills the youngest were known as “scavengers” and “piecers” (Child Labor). The scavengers would pick up the loose cotton from underneath the machinery, while it was still in motion. The piecers were stationed where wool was spinning. They had to reach in

slow. The overseers would beat them with leather straps, or dip them head first into water if they were tired (Child Labor).

spent less than three percent of its inspections on it, and the penalty for violations in 1998 was only $971 (Child Farmworkers).

Farmworkers). That is less then one person for every two states. With agriculture being the second most hazardous industry, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

After performing his study, he estimated that 290,200 children were illegally working in 1996 (Foster). Kruse did report that some were teenagers that worked extra hours at their after school jobs. However, he discovered 59,600 of them were under the age of fourteen, and 13,100 worked in sweatshops (Foster). By hiring underage children to work for them, employers reportedly saved $155 million in 1996 (Foster).

Back in 1938, congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act, with the purpose of ending child labor (Foster). It did decline over many years, but has since leveled off after 1995. In 1997, the Associated Press discovered some disturbing statistics. While trying to

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