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Two children are standing in a factory with heavy equipment nearby.

Child Labor: A New Primary Source Set for Teachers from the Library of Congress

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In the early 20th century, a national reform movement took aim at child labor in the United States, igniting debates over the rights and responsibilities that parents, government institutions, and the community as a whole had to the nation’s children.

A new primary source set from the Library of Congress makes it easy for teachers and students to immerse themselves in the lives of child workers, and to explore the beliefs and the persuasive strategies of the anti-child labor movement.

Screenshot of Child Labor Primary Source Set

Highlights include audio recordings of interviews with former child laborers, cartoons and newspaper articles documenting reform efforts, and photographs of children in their workplaces and on protest marches, including photos by the tireless reformer Lewis Hine.

As you use this set with your students, let us know what insights they share about child labor debates of yesterday and today!

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