Education and the Making of the Chicago Working Class, 1880-1930

A series of child labor laws were passed from 1900 to the 1920s, prohibiting paid employment of young children in factories.

“A series of child labor laws were passed from 1900 to the 1920s, which prohibited paid employment of young children in the increasing number of factories resulting from industrialization and the growth of urban areas (Hogan, 1978).”

Child labor, both paid employment and work in the home, was an important source of income for recent immigrant families to the United States.

“Child labor, both paid employment and work in the home, was an important source of income for recent immigrant families to the United States.”

Eighty percent of families in which children under age 16 were employed were dependent on the child's income for support.

“Eighty percent of families in which children under age 16 were employed were dependent on the child’s income for support.”

Two major forms of legislation originating in the early 1900s contributed to significant differences in educational attainment between Cohort 2 (born 1896) and Cohort 6 (born 1924).

“Two major forms of legislation originating in the early 1900s contributed to significant differences in educational attainment between Cohort 2 (born 1896) and Cohort 6 (born 1924).”

Children who were employed earned 36% of the income for their families in Chicago in 1884.

“Children who were employed earned 36% of the income for their families in Chicago in 1884 (Hogan, 1978; Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1884).”