During the industrial era, particularly in the late 18th to the early 20th centuries, many children were employed in various jobs, often under harsh and unsafe conditions. Some common types of jobs that children held during this time included:
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Factory Work: Many children worked in textile mills and factories. They operated machines, tended to looms, and performed various tasks in the production process.
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Coal Mining: Children were often employed in coal mines, where they performed dangerous tasks such as crawling into tight spaces to retrieve coal or operating machinery.
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Agricultural Labor: In rural areas, children worked on farms, helping with planting, harvesting, and caring for livestock.
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Chimney Sweeping: Young boys were often employed as chimney sweeps, where they would climb into chimneys to clean soot and debris, a job fraught with health risks.
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Street Labor: Some children worked in street trades, selling newspapers, magazines, or other goods. Others might perform services like shining shoes.
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Domestic Servitude: Children, particularly girls, often worked as household servants, taking care of tasks like cleaning, cooking, and childcare in wealthier homes.
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Piecework: In certain industries, children were employed to do piecework at home, such as assembling small products or making items for a factory.
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Transportation and Delivery: Children sometimes worked in transportation, delivering goods or working with horse-drawn carts.
The involvement of children in labor during the industrial era drew significant criticism and led to labor reform movements that eventually resulted in regulations concerning child labor, aiming to improve their working conditions and educational opportunities.