5 Worst Jobs Given To Children In History

Summary

This historical overview delves into the grim reality of child labor, highlighting five perilous occupations from the past. From 'mud larks' scavenging in London's filthy River Thames to 'mule scavengers' risking life and limb in textile mills, the script paints a stark picture. It also covers the horrors of child coal miners, the treacherous work of chimney sweeps, and the explosive risks faced by 'powder monkeys' on naval ships. The narrative serves as a chilling reminder of the exploitation and hardships children endured before labor laws were enacted.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Historically, children were exploited as cheap labor for dangerous jobs due to the lack of legislation protecting workers' rights and enforcing a minimum working age.
• 🌊 In 18th and 19th century London, 'mud larks' were children who scavenged the River Thames for valuable items amidst raw sewage and other hazards, risking infection and death.
• 🧶 'Mule scavengers' in textile mills during the Industrial Revolution were children tasked with collecting cotton scraps from under dangerous machinery, facing severe health issues and the risk of injury or death.
• 🏭 Victorian era coal miners included children who worked in confined, hazardous conditions, suffering from long hours, poor visibility, respiratory diseases, and the constant threat of accidents.
• 🔥 Chimney sweeps involved young children climbing narrow, hot chimneys to clean soot, leading to physical abuse, stunted growth, and blindness from the harsh conditions.
• 🐒 'Powder monkeys' on naval ships during battles were responsible for transporting gunpowder to artillery guns, facing the risk of explosion and injury amidst the chaos of combat.
• 👦 The term 'mud lark' evolved from referring to children who scavenged the River Thames to school children who would beg for change by sifting through riverbank mud for amusement.
• 👷‍♂️ Children in coal mining were estimated to make up 30% of the workforce in Britain in 1851, highlighting the widespread use of child labor in this industry.
• 🛠️ 'Trapper boys' in coal mines were the youngest workers, often alone in the dark, responsible for managing airflow through trapdoors, a tedious and perilous task.
• 🏹 The speed and efficiency of 'powder monkeys' could directly influence the outcome of naval battles, underscoring the importance of their role despite the lack of recognition.
• 👨‍🏫 The script serves as a reminder of the harsh realities and exploitation of child labor in history, prompting reflection on the progress made in workers' rights and child protection.

Q & A

What was the role of a mudlark in 18th and 19th century London?

A mudlark was a child who scavenged through the muddy shores of the River Thames, searching for valuable items such as coal, iron, wood, or even lost jewelry and coins that could be sold for money.

What were the risks and dangers faced by mudlarks?

Mudlarks faced risks such as deep cuts from broken glass and rusting trash, infections due to the filthy environment, and competition with Toshers who scavenged from sewers. The riverbank was covered in raw sewage and even human and animal corpses.

What was the significance of mule scavengers in the textile mills during the Industrial Revolution?

Mule scavengers were children who collected cotton scraps from under the spinning mules in textile mills. Their small size allowed them to fit into tight spaces, and they were cost-effective for the mill owners, despite the hazardous working conditions.

What were the hazards faced by mule scavengers while working in textile mills?

Mule scavengers faced hazards such as severe health problems like respiratory diseases and cancer due to the dusty environment, and the risk of being crushed or decapitated by the moving parts of the spinning mules.

Why were children preferred as workers in coal mines during Victorian times?

Children were preferred in coal mines because their smaller bodies enabled them to fit into the tight confines of the mine shafts, and they could be paid much less than adult workers. In 1851, children made up an estimated 30% of the coal mining workforce in Britain.

What were the specific jobs given to children in coal mines, and what were the associated dangers?

Children in coal mines performed jobs like 'breaker boys' who removed impurities from coal, 'trappers' who controlled air flow by opening and closing trapdoors, and 'hurriers' who pushed and pulled heavy coal carts. Dangers included open cuts, crushed limbs, long hours in dark conditions damaging eyesight, respiratory diseases, and the constant threat of explosions and cave-ins.

Why were chimney sweeps in demand during the Industrial Revolution?

The increase in the use of coal for heating led to a buildup of soot inside chimneys, which needed frequent cleaning to prevent blockages and fires. The narrow and often twisted design of these new chimneys made them accessible only to small children.

What were the physical and psychological effects of being a chimney sweep?

Chimney sweeps faced physical effects like stunted growth, deformity of the spine and limbs, blindness due to sores and infections of the eyes, and respiratory issues. Psychologically, they were often abused and lived in constant fear and grief due to the harsh working conditions.

What was the role of a powder monkey in naval battles?

A powder monkey was a young boy responsible for transporting gunpowder from the ship's magazine to the artillery guns during a naval battle, ensuring a continuous supply for the guns to fire.

What were the dangers associated with being a powder monkey?

Powder monkeys faced the risk of explosion from a stray spark, being hit by flying splinters from cannon fire, and the potential for being crushed by dismounted guns or injured by misfires that sprayed hot shards of iron.

How did the conditions and roles of child laborers reflect the societal and economic conditions of the time?

The harsh conditions and exploitative roles of child laborers reflect the lack of legislation protecting workers' rights, the high demand for cheap labor during the Industrial Revolution, and the societal indifference towards the welfare of children, especially those living in poverty.

Outlines

00:00

👧 The Harsh Reality of Mudlarks and Mule Scavengers

This paragraph delves into the grim working conditions faced by children in the 18th and 19th centuries. It highlights the existence of 'mudlarks,' children who scavenged the River Thames for valuable waste amidst filth and danger, competing with 'Toshers' who searched through sewers. Mudlarks risked infection and death from cuts in a harsh environment. The paragraph also describes 'mule scavengers,' children employed in textile mills to collect cotton scraps from under spinning machines, facing the risk of injury or death from the machinery. These children worked long hours in poor conditions, leading to health issues and a lack of education, illustrating the exploitation of children in the Industrial Revolution era.

05:01

🏭 The Perilous Lives of Victorian Child Coal Miners and Chimney Sweeps

The second paragraph discusses the plight of child laborers in coal mines and as chimney sweeps during the Victorian era. Children were employed in coal mines due to their small stature, which allowed them to navigate tight mine shafts, but this came at the cost of their health and safety. They performed various tasks such as 'breaker boys' who removed impurities from coal, 'trappers' who managed air flow, and 'hurriers' who transported heavy coal carts. The paragraph also details the horrifying conditions of chimney sweeps, young children forced to climb narrow, hot chimneys to clean soot, leading to physical injuries, stunted growth, and blindness. Both professions exposed children to severe exploitation and life-threatening conditions.

10:01

💥 The Brave yet Overlooked Powder Monkeys of Naval Warfare

The final paragraph recounts the critical but perilous role of 'powder monkeys' in naval battles. These young boys were tasked with transporting gunpowder from the ship's magazine to the artillery guns amidst the chaos of battle. Their small size was advantageous for moving quickly through the ship, but it also put them at great risk of injury or death from explosions, falling debris, or misfired guns. Despite the significant impact their work had on the outcome of battles, these boys were often overlooked and underappreciated, highlighting the extreme bravery and sacrifice of child laborers in historical naval conflicts.

Keywords

💡Child Labor

Child labor refers to the employment of children in jobs that are inappropriate for their age. In the video, it is a central theme as it discusses the exploitation of children in various hazardous occupations throughout history. The script describes children being forced into these roles due to poverty and the lack of legislation to protect them.

💡Mudlarks

Mudlarks were children in 18th and 19th century London who scavenged the shores of the River Thames for items of value amidst the waste and garbage. The term is used in the script to illustrate the desperate measures children took to earn a living, facing dangerous conditions such as working around raw sewage and broken glass.

💡Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution marked a period of rapid industrialization that began in Britain in the late 18th century and spread to other parts of the world. The script mentions this era as the backdrop for the emergence of many child labor practices, including mule scavengers and coal miners, due to the demand for labor in factories and mines.

💡Mule Scavengers

Mule scavengers were children employed in textile mills to collect cotton scraps from under the machinery. The script describes the harsh working conditions they faced, including the risk of injury from the machines and health problems from the dusty environment, highlighting the exploitation of children during the Industrial Revolution.

💡Coal Miners

Coal miners were workers, including children, who extracted coal from underground mines. The video script details the perilous conditions children faced as coal miners, such as working in cramped spaces, enduring long hours, and facing the constant threat of accidents like explosions and cave-ins.

💡Chimney Sweeps

Chimney sweeps were responsible for cleaning chimneys to prevent blockages and fires. The script describes the grueling and hazardous conditions young chimney sweeps faced, including being forced to climb narrow, hot chimneys, which could lead to suffocation, injury, and long-term health issues.

💡Powder Monkeys

Powder monkeys were young boys who transported gunpowder to artillery guns on ships during naval battles. The script emphasizes the high-risk nature of their role, as they had to navigate through chaotic battle conditions while carrying volatile gunpowder, and their critical contribution to the ship's combat effectiveness.

💡Legislation

Legislation refers to the process of making or enacting laws. The video script indicates that the lack of legislation to protect the rights of workers and enforce a minimum working age contributed to the widespread use of child labor and the exploitation of children in various dangerous jobs.

💡Victorian Times

Victorian Times refers to the period of Queen Victoria's reign in the United Kingdom, from 1837 to 1901. The script uses this term to describe an era when child labor was prevalent, especially in industries like coal mining and chimney sweeping, due to the high demand for labor and the lack of protective laws.

💡Soot

Soot is a black substance produced by the incomplete combustion of coal. In the context of the script, soot accumulation in chimneys created the need for chimney sweeps, including young children, to clean them, which was a hazardous job that could lead to respiratory issues and other health problems.

💡Steam

Steam was a primary source of energy during the Victorian era, used to power trains, factories, and ships. The script explains that the increased demand for steam led to a rise in coal mining, which in turn created more child labor opportunities, as children were ideal for working in the confined spaces of the mines.

Highlights

Children historically exploited for cheap labor in dangerous jobs due to lack of protective legislation.

Mudlarks in 18th and 19th century London scavenged the River Thames for valuable items amidst hazardous conditions.

Mudlarks faced competition from Toshers, adult scavengers in sewers, for finding valuable items.

Mudlark work was physically demanding, with high risks of injury and infection due to the filthy environment.

Mule scavengers in textile mills were tasked with collecting cotton scraps from under dangerous machinery.

Orphaned children were often forced to work as mule scavengers, enduring poor conditions and severe health issues.

The constant danger of injury or death from machinery was a grim reality for mule scavengers.

Coal miners, including children, faced grueling work conditions and high mortality rates.

Children made up a significant portion of the coal mining workforce, performing diverse and perilous tasks.

Chimney sweeps, including very young children, risked suffocation, burns, and deformities in their work.

Chimney sweeps' work involved climbing narrow, hot chimneys and dislodging soot with brushes and scrapers.

Powder monkeys, young boys on warships, carried gunpowder with high risk of explosion and injury.

The speed and efficiency of powder monkeys could influence the outcome of naval battles.

Powder monkeys faced life-threatening conditions, including flying splinters and misfiring cannons.

The occupation of mudlark evolved by the 20th century to school children begging for change on riverbanks.

The video concludes with a call to remember the plight of these children when considering one's own work challenges.

Transcripts

throughout history children have often

been utilized as nothing more than cheap

and convenient labor forced undertake a

whole host of unbelievable and downright

dangerous jobs in an age before

legislation which protects the rights of

workers and enforces a minimum working

age young children were often at the

mercy of ruthless adults keen to exploit

them for personal profit so next time

you think you're having a bad day at

work spare a thought for these

unfortunate children number 5 mud locks

life in 18th and 19th century London was

hard and unforgiving for the huge

numbers of children living in poverty

with no skills or opportunities to

improve their situation any chance to

scrape together enough money to survive

would be seized with both hands for

those children living near the River

Thames one way to generate an income was

to become a mud log this lowly

occupation involved scavenging through

the muddy shores of the river searching

for anything of value which could be

sold the massive growth of London during

the industrial revolution had resulted

in enormous levels of waste and garbage

being dumped into the River Thames

however what was one man's trash would

often be a child's treasure as the tide

of the river went out packs of mud logs

would scurry through the mud looking for

anything that could earn them some coin

chunks of coal scraps of iron and pieces

of wood that had been discarded by

others would be gratefully gathered up

by the mud logs and sold for whatever

they could get on a rare lucky day

they might even find something more

precious such as a lost piece of jewelry

or even silver coins yet such fines did

not occur often as the mud larks had to

compete with Tosh's who were grown men

who scavenged from the sewers as the

trash came through the sewage system at

first the Tosh's would more often than

not be the first to find the really

valuable items the work was

back-breaking the rewards were low and

the risk was high the muddy riverbank

was covered in raw sewage and even the

corpses of humans and animals the mud

locks would often suffer deep cuts from

shards of broken glass and other pieces

of rusting trash embedded in the shore

and such wounds were especially prone to

infection due to the filthy environment

the children were surrounded by even a

small wound could be a death sentence

and conditions were so bad that the term

mud log quickly became slang for a pig

the amount of money the mudlark made

each day was tiny but it was enough for

them to survive and unlike most other

jobs in that period they had a certain

amount of independence being able to

work whatever hours they chose and

keeping 100% of the money they made by

the 20th century improving opportunities

in the cities meant that the occupation

had all but disappeared and the term

instead began to be used to describe

school children who would earn some

extra money during the school holidays

by begging passers-by to throw some

spare change into the mud of the

riverbank which they would then scramble

through the mud to retrieve causing a

spectacle which would amuse onlookers

number four mule scavengers yet another

job

born from the Industrial Revolution mule

scavengers were a common sight in

textile mills across the world in the

18th and 19th centuries over the course

of the working day scraps of cotton

would gather on the floor underneath the

great lumbering machines used to spin

cotton into thread along with dust oil

and other debris

these cotton scraps were seen by the

mill owners as far too valuable to

simply throw away and needed to be

collected and removed at regular

intervals to prevent the machines

clogging up and breaking down the work

was unskilled and required small bodies

to fit underneath the spinning mules in

order to get at the cotton scraps small

children were seen as ideal for this

task being small enough to fit into the

tight spaces and very cost-effective

these scavengers were viewed as being at

the bottom of the hierarchy of staff and

had to endure the worst working

conditions the children were often

orphans as young as four who were taken

in by the factory owners and forced to

work after 16 hours a day until they

were 15 years of age suffering severe

beatings should they fall asleep from

exhaustion trapped inside the dusty

factories for most of the day their

fragile bodies frequently developed

severe health problems including

respiratory diseases and even cancer yet

these terrible health issues were not

the only danger they faced the giant

spinning mules that spun cotton into

thread would not be turned off to allow

the child to scavenge the scraps

underneath the machine operators were

paid by how much they produced and as

such any lost time would prove too

costly so they continued their work

forcing the children to crawl under the

deadly spinning machines

to avoid having the life crushed out of

them the children had to lay low

desperately hugging the floor as they

carefully crawled underneath the

enormous machines as the mule moved

forward they had to quickly gather all

the cotton scraps they could find as

carefully as they could so as not to

become entangled in the machines moving

parts despite taking such great care

accidents still happened hands and even

heads would be frequently crushed under

the machines moving parts and there were

even reports of decapitations body parts

were prone to being torn off and perhaps

the most feared injury was scalping if

the child's hair strayed too close to

the machinery it could be sucked in and

become entangled viciously tearing the

scalp from the head with such dangers

looming overhead the scavengers also

suffered psychological breakdowns many

were reported by observers to be in a

constant state of grief and terror due

to the constant noise in the factories

and the ever-present danger of painful

injury and death number three

coal miners during Victorian times steam

became the prime source of energy

powering trains factories and even ships

burning coal was the best way to boil

water and thus produce steam causing an

enormous increase in demand for the

precious black chunks massive coal mines

opened all over the world and children

became the ideal employees for these new

underground money-making enterprises

the bodies were smaller enabling them to

fit in the tight confines of the mine

shafts and they could be paid much less

than the adult colleagues in fact the

use of children in coal mining became so

widespread that in 1851

it was estimated that children made up

30% of the coal mining workforce in

Britain alone the types of jobs the

children were given were diverse but all

of them involved working in horrendous

and dangerous conditions above

groundbreaker boys spent 10 hours a day

6 days per week toiling to remove

impurities from the mined coal they

would spend their day sitting on wooden

chairs hunched over conveyor belts

picking sharp pieces of slate out of the

coal by hand without the luxury of

cloths by the end of the day their

fingers could often be covered in open

cuts and it was not unusual for boys to

have their fingers torn off after

getting them trapped in the moving

conveyor belts many others would lose

their

or even be crushed to death after being

pulled inside the giant gears which

powered the machines below ground

trappers were often the youngest

employees some just eight years of age

though job was simply to open and close

the trapdoors which allowed fresh air to

flow through the mine and they would

often spend up to 12 hours a day alone

and in total darkness deep within the

mine although the work was not hard it

was my numbing ly boring and fraught

with danger her ears and thrusters were

older and stronger children who were

given the labor-intensive job of pushing

and pulling the coal Laden cards which

could easily weigh over 600 pounds

through cramped roadways which were

sometimes as low as 16 inches one child

would pull the cart while the other

pushed the elbows and knees scraping

against the rocky surface with the

pusher often using the heads to help

push against the heavy cart resulting in

the hair on the child's head wearing off

leaving them bald hours were long for

everybody and work could often begin at

2:00 in the morning with the child

remaining in the mine for up to 18 hours

such long hours in the dark could easily

damage a growing child's eyesight and

the lack of ventilation in the mine

caused numerous cases of respiratory

disease and cancer with many of the

workers dying before the age of 25 the

young workers lived with the

ever-present fear of explosions and

cave-ins knowing that at any moment they

could be blown to pieces or buried alive

and should they survive any of the

horrific injuries that could befall them

while at work no compensation for the

suffering would be forthcoming and a

future of poverty starvation and death

would likely be the fate number 2

chimney sweeps with the population of

cities exploding during

industrialization the number of houses

with chimney shot up and so did the

demand for chimney sweeps

whereas before wood was the fuel of

choice for home heating now the use of

coal was on the rise this resulted in

layers of soot building up inside the

flute which would need to be frequently

cleaned

thus topic becoming blocked and in many

cases even catching fire burning the

house down these new cold chimneys were

far more narrow than chimneys of old and

often bent and twisted at sharp angles

instead of rising straight up it was

common for them to be as narrow as 9

inches across a space

that was far too tight for an adult male

to enter as such small children as young

as four years old were recruited as

apprentices and made to climb up the

chimneys dislodge the soot usually

holding a brush above his head and

shimmying up the flue using the brush to

remove any loose soot and a scraper to

dislodge any solid pieces once at the

top of the chimney he would then slide

back down and collect the pile of cert

which could be sold as fertilizer these

young children would often be taken from

orphanages bought from parents or even

kidnapped from the streets and would be

bound to their new master as indentured

servants until they were adults

the master would teach his apprentice

the trade and be responsible for feeding

and clothing him yet no wages would be

paid to the child it was now totally at

the mercy of their new master while some

might have been raised with care the

uncomfortable truth was that many were

treated like slaves and suffered

terrible abuses the boys would sleep

under suits acts were rarely washed and

were often deprived food to ensure that

they stayed thin and therefore able to

fit inside the tight spaces of the

chimney the chimneys they were forced to

clean were often still scorching hot and

the boys knees and elbows would be

scraped bloody by the constant rubbing

against the rough bricks the master

would harden their skin by making them

stand close to a hot fire and then

rubbing in brine using a rough brush

every evening a process which would

cause sheets of hardened skin almost

like Armour to form around the elbows

and knees the work was extremely

dangerous and boys would often get stuck

inside the chimneys becoming more

tightly wedged by the panic-stricken

efforts to escape before eventually

suffocating if they were not rescued in

time there were even cases where a

second boy was sent up to help the

trapped one resulting in both of the

boys suffocating stunted growth and

deformity of the spine and limbs were

common due to the work forcing them to

remain in twisted positions for long

periods of time before their small and

fragile bones had time to mature and

harden many would go blind as a result

of sores and information of the eyes

caused by the filthy working conditions

and asthma and even cancer were common

caused by the carcinogenic suit and

constant exposure to extreme weather

conditions

even the common phrase lighter fire

under you is linked to the young Chimney

Sweeps if it was deemed that the boy was

working too slowly a small fire would be

lit in the fireplace the heat from which

would encourage him to move faster

another disturbing workplace motivation

tactic was to send another boy up

underneath and prick pins into his feet

or legs to get him working more speedily

number 1 powder monkeys during some of

the most famous naval battles of history

hidden away from view deep within the

ships engaged in battle were dozens of

small boys known as powder monkeys whose

job was vital to a ship survival but

also highly underrated these boys who

often as young as nine were given the

dangerous task of ferrying gunpowder

from the ships magazine to the artillery

guns the highly explosive nature of

gunpowder meant that it was secured deep

within the ship in a sealed chamber

known as the magazine so as to keep it

away from anything that might ignite it

which could cause a giant explosion

which would destroy the entire ship the

magazine would therefore be located

quite some distance away from where it

was needed during the heat of battle and

as the ship's guns continued to fire

they would eventually run out of

gunpowder and require a speedy resupply

powder monkeys would make their way to

the magazine as quickly as they could

bringing back a supply of gunpowder to

the gun crew they were assigned to the

boys were chosen for this task primarily

because of their size being small and

quick on their feet was a huge advantage

enabling them to move faster and more

easily through the tight confines of the

ship's decks in those days the outcome

of a naval battle did not only rely on

the number of guns being fired at the

enemy but also on how quickly the

individual guns could be reloaded and

fired again a higher rate of fire would

result in the enemy ship being destroyed

or disabled more rapidly which could

turn the course of the battle the speed

at which the powder monkeys moved could

have a direct influence on whether or

not the ship survived the battle and

even affect the outcome of the battle

itself a single delay could spell doom

for a ship and her crew lose an entire

battle and even change the course of

history an incredible responsibility was

placed on the boys shoulders but they

rarely received the recognition they

deserved many of the boys were kidnapped

or pressed into service against their

will the young age and

any size made them easy targets for the

press cans once on board the ship they

had to quickly come to terms with the

realization that they were unlikely to

ever see their homes again with no

prospect of pay and placed at the bottom

of the ship's hierarchy life must have

seemed bleak yet there was worse to come

as the inexperienced boys were also

given one of the most dangerous jobs on

board the ship carrying bags of

gunpowder on their back during the chaos

of a battle was a risky proposition a

stray spark could turn the sack of

gunpowder into a deadly bomb and the

boys also had to contend with the

horrors of 19th century naval combat

bullets and cannonballs would be

constantly smashing into the ship's

wooden hull spraying clouds of vicious

splinters of oak in all directions these

splinters could be inches thick and

would easily shred flesh from bone and

tear off limbs the guns themselves could

dismount crushing anyone in their path

under their enormous weight or even

misfire spraying the surrounding area

with redhot shards of iron during the

heat of battle

many of the powder monkeys would have

been killed and the sight of men

suffering with horrific injuries during

his journey through the ship would have

been common yet still the boy had to

press on through the chaos so those are

my choices for five of the worst jobs

for children in history I hope you

enjoyed the video let me know your

thoughts and what other jobs you would

have included in the list in the

comments below and I'll see you again on

the next video

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