Much of child labor has been dated back to the nineteenth and early twentieth century when young children of all ages were put to work in harsh conditions. Florence Kelley, a passionate and articulate woman delivers her speech towards child labor at the National American Suffrage Association in Philadelphia. She dictates injustices, children must go through when put to work on farms and factories. From the beginning of her speech to the ending Florence uses the appeals of ethos and pathos to reach her audience of mothers typically the high educated class.
The appeal of pathos is strongly used and repeated throughout the speech to catch the reader’s attention and make them feel sympathy along with empathy for the children. The …show more content…
Florence states “In Alabama the law provides that a child under sixteen years of age shall not work in a cotton mill at night longer than eight hours “In this country, two million children under the age of sixteen years who are earning their bread.” Florence Kelley then compares the different laws and restrictions between states by stating, “In Georgia there is no restrictions whatever! A girl of six or seven years, just tall enough to reach the bobbins, may work eleven hours by day or by night.” Following that, she adds, “In Pennsylvania, until last May, it was lawful for children, 13 years of age, to work twelve hours at night.” “Last year New Jersey... A good law was repealed which had required women and [children] to stop work at six in the evening and at noon on Friday.” By giving information, she gives the audience a sense that she is well informed. When Florence talks about laws admitted into states she gives the audience hope in other states changing their laws …show more content…
An article published by South China Morning Post reveals the work environment, children in China are still experiencing at such young ages. The article reported, “A large portion of the more than 1,000 apparel manufacturers in Changshu, Jiangsu province, have been using cheap labor.” Children as young as three to sixteen years old are put to work in abusive, poor conditions and paid less than minimum wage. One 15-year-old worker quoted as saying he, “works at least 28 days a month, starting work each day at 7.30am and never finishing before 10pm.” When asked about the treatment workers experience from his employer, he said, “The boss beats him if he “misbehaves.” He added that he and his co-workers don’t get paid until the end of the year, and will not be paid at all if they leave before then.” This article demonstrates the relevance in Florence Kelley speech due to the harsh labor that children must experience.
Without a doubt, author Florence Kelley uses emotional appeal along with ethics to persuade her audience of mothers to go and vote and end child labor suffering. Florence at the end of her speech finishes off with, “For the sake of the children, for the republic in which these children will vote after we are dead, and for the sake of our cause.” She does this by appealing to a sense of duty, and obligations along with a sense of responsibility and ownership towards mothers in the