Analyzation of "Child Labor: The Mines"

"CHILD LABOR: THE MINES" by John Stuart Mills

Of course, it is known by this particular student that Mills is a writer-activist. His strongly opposed the exploitive factories. However, conditions were usually as bad as described by Mills and sometimes even worse. His audience is the wealthier, upper classes and the politicians. His purpose was simple- reform and regulations for an out of control industrial revolution. Mr. Mills wanted to expose the dreadful conditions in which miners worked. He also wanted to highlight the exploitation of women and children who worked in the mines. It's significance as a first hand account is apparent in his interview with the child. It is a reflection of what many lower middle class citizens felt about factories and their conditions. However, this document is also very biased with the opinions of a social activist, and somewhat cancels out its authenticity.