The Effects of the Industrial Revolution on Children and Children's Rights in the 18th Century

The first place of the Industrial Revolution is Great Britain and its period is the 18th century. New industrial machines and methods have been developed during the Industrial Revolution. It has been a great revolution for Europe and all the world. This transition has spread to Europe and all over the world after England. With the Industrial Revolution, new machines and agricultural methods were invented, such as the Newcomen steam engine and the spinning jenny. What is more, the Industrial Revolution has brought to light social and economic changes. Because of industrialization, the number of machines and factories has increased. The Industrial Revolution did not bring out good changes for the working class. Capitalism has spread and women and children started to work in challenging conditions. 

           Increasing industrialization has caused unemployment and working for low wages. This case has led families to send their children to work in factories, mining places, or chimneys. Children were forced to work in challenging conditions for long hours. They were too small and young to work. Employers used their innocence as an advantage. Working children have collapsed psychologically and physically. Moreover, this is the case that they were behind other children in terms of hygiene, nutrition, education, and mental and physical health. As a result of capitalism, children have been used as employees and their labors have been wasted. The difficulties they experienced have caused them to suffer from severe mental disorders and diseases like cancer in the future. 

There have been no legal rights or laws for children in the 18th century. The issue of rights has been seen as an opportunity in those times. Educationally, the children of the 18th century middle and upper classes had some opportunities in the 18th century, which is known as both the Industrial Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment. Well-off families could send their children to school and university. With industrialization and mechanization, new inventions and educational materials have been created. However, these opportunities were for the children of wealthy families. The low-class children did not have the education right as they did not have the other rights. With the onset of industrialization, children, who normally worked with their families in the fields, began to work in factories. In the late 18th century, “Sunday Schools” were established by the religious communities, and poor children were educated in these schools, however, this was not enough for them. 

According to some research, there was no law or right enacted on child labor at that time. Industrialization caused children to work for their families at an early age. Poor children were exposed to death and despised in the 18th century. Towards the middle of the 19th century, revolutionaries began to raise uprisings against child labor.