Introduction: This is an important time period for children. During this time child labor laws were formed in states, protecting children from dangerous conditions. Due to the child labor laws, more children began to go to school, getting a stronger education. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts were founded during this time encouraging children to participate in their community. World War One made children more patriotic. Propaganda was targeted children because they were the most impressionable. Children were able to do small things like make gardens or sell war bonds to adults. Children influence what happens later in history. The current events teach children about how much they should care for their country and how much they can support their nation.
Child Labor: Child Labor continued into the 1900s. It was becoming a rapidly increasing issues. Many Americans began to the see the issues with children working in dangerous factories with long hours. Children were put into danger, injuring themselves while trying to support their family. Lewis Hines went to factories and other workplaces to photograph the working conditions and the faces of young people. The Keating Owen Act (1916) prohibited the sale of goods from factories with workers under the age of 14, mines that employed workers under 16, and any facility that had children under 16 working at night or more than 8 hours a day. It was declared unconstitutional. Eventually states created their own labor laws. President Taft created the Children's Bureau and pushed for Child Labor Laws. The Beginning of the End- This was a newspaper published in Chicago, a popular place that was filled with factories. It brought attention to children in the workforce. A difference was beginning to be made throughout the country.
This article was written to inform city dwellers about laws that may be passed for child labor. It shows that the public was informed of these issues and were made aware by the news papers.
This article described the changes for children's everyday lives.
In class we learned about working conditions in factories and how dangerous they were.
Three Girls From the Mills- This is an image taken by Lewis Hines of young girls. They are covered in dirt and look very tired.
This picture was taken to show the conditions in factories and the condition of children.
This image shows how hard children were worked for little pay.
We studied Lewis Hine's photos because they were very moving and exposing.
Education: Education was not something that every child got. Many children were still working, but attendance was increasing. A Class Picture- A group of school children in the third and fourth grades of the Cowpens, S.C., School. These children are all 9-10 years old and only one of those 10 work in the town mill.
This was a class picture from the school. It shows what children looked like in these times and the environment they lived in.
It surprises me that there are so few children in the school. I would want to learn new things.
Pledging to the Flag- This is a class that is saying the Pledge of Allegiance. This was begun mostly due to immigrant children. It was a way of teaching them the American culture.
This was taken to show the life of a classroom during this period. It shows what was important to teach at the time,
It surprises me how many children are in this classroom. The teachers aren't reciting the pledge in this photo either, they are just sitting off to the side.
Children of the War: Buying In Children were encouraged by propaganda to participate in the war efforts. They were meant to tell their parents to buy certain things or buy war bonds. War Saving Stamps- These stamps were meant to make money for the war effort. It was advertised as affordable for everyone including children.
This advertisement was meant to encourage support for the war. It shows how the home front during the war changed and what the priorities of the American people were.
This shows how much children were invited to support the war even with money.
Food Administration Ad- This was an ad aimed towards children. They were encouraged to eat rice, corn or oats instead of wheat. Wheat was to be reserved for the soldiers.
This shows how children were influenced during the war time.
This is something that the Food Administration made which we talk about as a large government organization in the war time.
Pride An American Rally- Rallies were held in cities to get everyone together and support their country. Many children attended together as they were a huge asset on the home front.
This image was taken to display all the people at this rally and how much support America had.
Children played a major role in supporting our troops. They are the most impressionable group and can be persuaded to do many things.
Boy Scouts Boy Scouts in the Streets- Boy Scouts were founded in 1910. Their popularity increased during the war. These boy are running through the streets shouting "Wake Up, America" a few days after President Woodrow Wilson declared war on Germany. Boy Scouts sold War Bonds door to door and on the streets.
The Boy Scouts continue to support America throughout the years.
Boy Scouts were an important piece of young boy's lives. It gave them something to be apart of.
Girl Scouts Girl Scouts- Girls Scouts were founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low. The intention was to make girls more active and give them basic skills of survival. During the war they sold War Bonds like the Boy Scouts.
These girls are young and are excited to support each other and their country.
Girl Scouts were important to young girls. It taught them skills that they needed and got them involved in their community.