The police often arrested the children, some as young as five years old, and put them in lock up facilities with adult criminals. The children formed gangs for protection because life on the street was dangerous and they were regularly victimized. The children were in search of food, shelter, and money and sold rags, matches, and newspapers just to survive. Many of these children were placed with parents who loved and cared for them however others always felt out of place and some were even mistreated.ĭuring the 1850s there were thousands of children living on the streets of several major cities. While they operated, Orphan Trains moved approximately 200,000 children from cities like New York and Boston to the American West to be adopted. The Orphan Trains operated prior to the federal government’s involvement in child protection and child welfare.
Introduction: Between 18 the United States was engaged in an ambitious, and ultimately controversial, social experiment to rescue poor and homeless children, the Orphan Train Movement. You hesitate how far you should go.” – Charles Loring Brace The human soul is difficult to interfere with. “When a child of the streets stands before you in rags, with a tear-stained face, you cannot easily forget him. In: Child Welfare/Child Labor, Programs Orphan Trains (1854 – 1929) By Angelique Brown
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