Final answer:
One significant reason children worked in factories and mines was the economic necessity for their wages to support family finances. Despite laws to limit child labor, families and employers often bypassed these due to ongoing economic demands. Eventually, child labor declined due to mechanization, social expectations, and stricter laws.The correct answer is option C.
Step-by-step explanation:
One significant reason why children worked in factories and mines in addition to their parents before the industrial revolution was that a child's wages made a financial difference for families.
During the Industrial Revolution, there was a high demand for labor, and families often struggled economically, making the need to have every able member, including children, contribute financially crucial.
Children were typically employed for their ability to fit into small spaces and handle tasks that were not suitable for adults. Moreover, employers preferred to hire children since they could pay them much lower wages.
Despite the fact that laws such as the Prussian Child Labor Act and Britain's Factory Acts were implemented to limit child labor, economic necessity often led families to circumvent these laws.
However, as the nineteenth century progressed, changing trends such as increased mechanization, cultural expectations, and new legislation led to a decline in the use of child labor in factories and mines.The correct answer is option C.