According to historical accounts, were children as young as six or seven employed in factories in England during the 1840s?

In the context of the industrial revolution in England during the 1840s, children were indeed commonly employed in factories, often starting as young as six or seven years old. This practice was driven by the need for cheap labor, as families required additional income to survive. Factories found that younger children could be hired for lower wages compared to adults, and their small size allowed them to perform tasks in tight spaces or handle machinery that older workers could not.

Child labor was widespread during this period, leading to significant exploitation and dire working conditions for these young workers. They often worked long hours in dangerous environments with little regulatory oversight. The employment of children in such capacities highlighted the lack of labor laws at the time, which ultimately sparked social reform movements aimed at improving conditions for workers and protecting children.

Younger children working in factories contributed to the larger historical discourse on child labor, leading to eventual reforms and regulations that sought to improve the rights and welfare of children in the workforce.