Middle School
Worksheets
Grace Abbott: Child Labor Activist
At what age do you think kids should start working for wages? Children as young as four were put to work in factories during the Industrial Revolution. Children have been part of the labor force throughout history. It was only after public education became available that the rights of children began to change.
The first general laws against child labor were called the Factory Acts. They were passed in Britain in the first half of the 19th century. Children younger than nine were no longer allowed to work. If you were under the age of eighteen, your workday was limited to twelve hours.
Grace Abbott was an important voice in the fight to protect children's rights. She protected mothers and children. She tried to protect immigrants from abuse. She rescued children in the workforce from the horrible conditions of the time.
