Ancient history

What unpleasant jobs did children do in the 1700s?

Children in the 1700s often had to perform unpleasant and dangerous jobs. Some of these jobs included:

- Chimney sweeping: Children as young as four or five years old were sent up chimneys to clean them. This was a dangerous and dirty job, and many children died or were injured from falls, burns, or exposure to soot and chemicals.

- Coal mining: Children worked in coal mines, often for long hours and in dangerous conditions. They hauled coal, operated machinery, and sometimes even worked underground.

- Factory work: Children worked in factories, where they were exposed to dangerous machinery, chemicals, and unhealthy working conditions. They often worked long hours for low wages.

- Domestic service: Children worked as servants in wealthy households, where they performed a variety of tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and childcare. They were often overworked and underpaid.

- Agricultural labor: Children worked in agriculture, where they performed tasks such as planting, harvesting, and tending livestock. They often worked long hours in the sun and heat.

In addition to these jobs, children in the 1700s were also sometimes used as beggars, prostitutes, and soldiers. These jobs were all dangerous and exploitative, and they deprived children of their childhood and education.