During the Industrial Revolution (1750 to 1850) many people went to live in the cities, where there was plenty of work in the new factories. Children were cheap labour, so factory owners hired them to work in the textile factories or mills. Children as young as four year old had to work as hard as possible: they spent nearly all their working hours working the machines, they had no schooling and were beaten if they sat down to rest.
Children were also sent to work in the coal mines. These were dangerous places - sometimes the roof collapsed or there were floods and gas explosions.
Many orphans lived on the streets of London. They had nothing to eat and they slept in doorways. They often picked pockets in order to buy food and were severely punished if they were caught.
CHARLES DICKENS wrote about these children in "Oliver Twist".
Because of exploitation, children's employment laws were gradually enacted and enforced.
CHILD ACTORS
Many child actors have made successful careers as adult actors, including LEONARDO DICAPRIO, ELIJAH WOOD, JODIE FOSTER... One of the most famous child stars of all time was SHIRLEY TEMPLE. As an adult, she was a public figure and diplomat.
However, there are also many examples of child actors who were unable to adjust to living in the "real world". They often suffer from depression, drug addiction and financial problems. Psychologists say that child actors don't have normal childhoods. They don't go to school regularly so they don't socialise withother children. They are often very spoilt (=malcriados) and protected.
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