Guided Research 1

Unfair and Unsafe Working Conditions: Child Labor in Coal Mines

Research Question: How did the progressives solve the social and political challenges created by modernization?

Box A - MODERNIZATION: How did the Industrial Revolution change living and working conditions in the United States?

MODERNIZATION: The Industrial Revolution

What happened during the Industrial Revolution?

Watch the video, read the article and take notes.

1. Watch Brainpop: the Industrial Revolution

2. Read or Listen to this Britannica Article: The Industrial Revolution

Box B - CHALLENGES: What problems did industrialization create?

PROBLEM: Child Labor in the Coal Mines

What problems did child labor create in the United States?

Background: The Industrial Revolution and all the new technologies required power. Power, or electricity, was made by burning coal. Coal comes from mining underground. Because children were cheap labor, many boys were hired in the coal mines, so they could produce coal at cheaper prices.

Use the sources below to begin your research.

1. Watch the Video - Breaker Boys - 5:33 mins

2. Critically read and analyze the articles and images below:

The Breaker Boys

Child Labor, Pennsylvania Coal Mines (Yale University) - Note: This source includes primary source images and quotes!

Box C - PROGRESS: How did progressives make changes to try to fix the problem of child labor in the United States?

Progressives used many different approaches to try to solve the child labor crisis in the United States in the early 1900s. Critically examine these resources and use them in your research notes.

Lewis Hine (muckraker and photographer):

Laws that changed:

4. Read Cobblestone: It's the Law article or read the print version in the library.

Now that you know a lot about this issue, try to research some of the topics you learned about.

What other interesting facts can you find?

What other topics does this connect to?

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