Child Labor · World History

What physical characteristic made children particularly 'useful' in textile mills?

  1. Their ability to read complex mechanical manuals
  2. Their small size, which allowed them to crawl under moving machinery
  3. Their immunity to the loud noise produced by steam engines
  4. Their superior strength in lifting heavy iron ingots
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Correct answer: Their small size, which allowed them to crawl under moving machinery

Children were often employed as 'scavengers' or 'piecers' because their small frames allowed them to fit into tight spaces. This allowed them to clean machinery or tie broken threads without stopping the machines, which was highly dangerous.

Difficulty: Medium Question 2 of 20

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