Cotton production during the Industrial Revolution played an important role in English history. The revolution was brought about by the development of new technologies, including the invention of machines capable of producing large quantities of cotton fabric. The resulting shift in cotton production from home to factory began in 1760 and was completed around 1830. The industrialization of cotton production transformed England in many ways, including a rapid urbanization and the introduction of children into the factory workforce. It can be said that the cotton industry would not have enjoyed such success without the use of children; however, the effects were detrimental to their well-being and ultimately led to the passage of a series of laws aimed at limiting child labor. Before examining the reasons and impact of child labor, it is necessary to give a brief overview of the Industrial Revolution in England. The 14th century saw England move from being an exporter of raw wool to a manufacturer of quality woolen textiles. The two main events that allowed this to happen were: the Hundred Years' War and the Bubonic Plague. The Hundred Years' War was a battle between the English and the French that began in 1337. During the war, King Edward III of England created a wool monopoly in an attempt to raise funds to support the effort of war. This objective was achieved by taxing the export of wool to Flanders and the Netherlands. As a result, production of woolen textiles declined and gave England the opportunity to take advantage of the shortage. It was also around this time that the bubonic plague struck Europe, killing between a third and half of the population. The effects of the plague were mostly devastating, but... middle of paper ... children aged thirteen to eighteen. The final law that will be examined is the Education Act of 1880, which made school compulsory for all children between the ages of five and ten. Even though the law made school attendance compulsory for children in this age group, only eighty-two percent of children attended school by the early 1890s. Many children continued to work while their families were desperately dependent on their income to make ends meet. The cotton industry brought unprecedented growth to many towns in the Lancashire region. The economic prosperity of the cotton industry rested heavily on the shoulders of the many children who worked in the mills, often to their detriment. Eventually, a small group of people fought for the welfare of working children and a number of labor laws were passed aimed at removing all children from factories..