Why were children often hired to work in factories during the Industrial Revolution?(2 points)

Question

Responses

Factories were too dangerous for women to work in, so factory owners hired children instead.
Factories were too dangerous for women to work in, so factory owners hired children instead.

Children could fit into tight spaces between machines and could be paid smaller wages, so factory owners hired them.
Children could fit into tight spaces between machines and could be paid smaller wages, so factory owners hired them.

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.
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.

Men were too busy on the family farm to work in factories, so factory owners needed to hire children.
Men were too busy on the family farm to work in factories, so factory owners needed to hire children.

Answer 1

The most accurate response is:

Children could fit into tight spaces between machines and could be paid smaller wages, so factory owners hired them.

This highlights the two main factors that encouraged the employment of children in factories during the Industrial Revolution: their ability to navigate cramped working environments and the fact that they could be paid significantly less than adult workers.