Final answer:
Child labor in English factories was characterized by long hours, low wages, and hazardous working conditions for children. Reforms such as the Factory Acts were introduced over time to limit working hours and enforce some education, reflecting the severe exploitation faced by young workers. The grim reality of child labor is depicted in literature and public discourse of the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The truth about child labor in the factories in England, as revealed in Helen's story, indicates that children often suffered greatly under harsh working conditions with minimal compensation. This is further supported by historical accounts such as those of Michael Sadler and the reforms in the Factory Acts, which sought to limit working hours and provide some mandatory schooling for children. These reforms highlight the severe exploitation of young children in industrial settings during the Industrial Revolution, who worked long hours for meager wages and were viewed as an easily replaceable and cheap labor force.
The improvement in children's working conditions was a slow process, with initial regulations like the Factory Act of 1819 which limited work to twelve hours a day, eventually leading to prohibitions on very young children working and reducing the hours for those under fourteen. The reality of child labor during this era was grim, with many children working instead of attending school and being employed in tasks that were dangerous and physically demanding. Novels like Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist and references by William Blake to “satanic mills” illustrate the public perception of such inhumane conditions.
While factory owners justified low wages due to children's small sizes and simpler tasks, reformers and the public increasingly called for political action to protect the welfare of children in the workplace, a change that would take significant time to manifest into protective legislation.