Florence Kelley, a prominent social reformer and advocate of labor laws, delivered a compelling speech on July 22, 1905, addressing urgent issues of child labor and women’s right in the United States. As a tireless activist, Kelley's passion for social justice led her to become a leading voice in the fight against the exploitation of children in the workforce. Through her comprehensive knowledge and powerful analogies, Kelley sought out to raise public awareness and ignite a call for action to protect the rights and well-being of these young laborers. Her historic speech remains a timeless testament to her dedication, in addition to serving as a basis for the many ways a person can make a speech powerful. Throughout Kelley’s speech, she …show more content…
Besides the previously mentioned depressing imagery, a notable point she makes is an interesting connection between women and children’s rights. This is seen when Kelley states that, “If the mothers and the teachers in Georgia could vote, would the Georgia Legislature have refused at every session for the last three years to stop the work in the mills of children under twelve years of age?” This statement notes the lack of political power and representation that certain groups of people, primarily women in this context, had at the time. By drawing attention to the fact that women did not have the right to vote, she sought to emphasize the inequality and injustice in the legislative decision-making process. Kelley implied that if these marginalized groups, who were directly affected by child labor and its consequences, had the right to participate in the democratic process, they would have advocated for laws to protect children from the harsh conditions of factory work. The urgency within this question is to make the audience think about the impact of depriving certain groups and the potential consequences of ignoring the voices of those who had the most at stake in the fight against child