How Did Florence Kelley Support The Orphan Train Movement

Florence Kelley (1859-1932), daughter of William and Caroline Kelley, was a successful women. She lived during the time of the Orphan Train Movement which lasted from 1854 to 1929. The Orphan Train Movement relocated homeless and abandoned children living on the streets of New York City to new homes in the United States. Some children were put into homes where they prospered but unfortunately some children were put into homes where they were treated like slaves and abused. Although Florence was alive at the time the orphan train ran there is no know information about how she actually responded to the movement. Due to the fact that some children were treated like slaves and abused mostly likely Florence Kelley would not have supported the Orphan Train Movement.

She worked hard to change the working conditions for women and children. She succeed in banning children 14 and under from participating in the workforce, creating an eight hour work day, and making a minimum wage. Due to her fight to stop children 14 and under from participating in the workforce and fight to stop abuse in the workplace most likely Florence would not have supported the people who took in the orphans to use them as labor on their farms. She would have wanted to protect the orphans who were being abused in their new homes. Even though some children were put into good homes still wouldn’t outweigh the children who were put into abusive homes. Also instead of being used as labor Florence would have wanted the children to attend a good school where they could receive a good education. Education was important to Florence who was one of the first women to graduate from Cornell