The Mistreatment of the Newsies
The newsies often lived in orphanages and wore old, ragged clothes. Some of the newsies who were a little more wealthy had slightly better clothes. During the winter the newsboys were not provided with coats or shoes. They either had to wear torn pants, worn down shoes (if they had any), or walk barefoot.
Protesting, Scholastic, Date unknown.
Newsies living quarters, History Detectives, 2012
A flood of new immigrants crowded the city, and a series of financial panics and depressions created unemployment. As a result, tens of thousands of destitute children ended up on the street. Since there was no arranged way to reach individual children or provide them with welfare or social services, there were many orphans left on the streets.
"Dis is de time when we'se got to stick together like glue"
-Kid Blink (One of the leaders)
The newsies were only paid about 25 cents a day. Even though 25 cents was how much rent was, they still would need to pay for their food. The strike was also communicating their meager living conditions and then the government passed The Fair Labor Standard law.
Outside of newsies lodging house, newsboys-of-1899.home.blog, 2019
Newsies in ragged clothes, Pinterest, date unkown
The Fair Labor Standard Act was passed in 1938, protecting children. The Fair Labor Standard Act restricts youth under 16 years to work, and lists hazardous occupations too dangerous for young workers to perform. The law also let them pursue an education instead of working. Although this law was dismissed in 2009, children are still protected.