Question

Statement 1: Child labourers were in great demand in coal mines during the Industrial Revolution.

Statement 2: Only men were hired to work in dangerous places like coal mines.

• A. Statement 1 is true and statement 2 is false
• B. Statement 2 is true and and statement 1 is false
• C. Both statements are true
• D. Both statements are false

Answer 1

The correct option is A Statement 1 is true and statement 2 is false

Child labourers were in great demand in coal mines during this period. This was so primarily because only children could reach the deep coal mining spots where the path was too narrow for adults to cross. Even younger kids were hired to work as trappers. These trappers would sit in the dark coal mines to open and shut doors when the coal wagons travelled through the mines. Some children even worked as ‘coal bearers’ and carried heavy loads of coal on their backs. Coal mines were dangerous places to work in. Many factory owners even hired children at an early age so they could be trained for future factory work. Many British factory records reveal that about half of the factory workers had started working when they were less than ten-years-old, and 28% joined when they were under the age of fourteen.