1. Charles Dickens’ World

2. Charles was born 1812 This was a particularly bad time to be alive. There were no laws about how to run businesses. This meant that children were working in factories and life was pretty miserable. This meant that children were working in factories and life was pretty miserable.

3. His Father Did Not Manage Money Very Well He was put into a “debtor’s prison” TWICE! He was put into a “debtor’s prison” TWICE! Unlike now, people couldn’t declare bankruptcy. If you owed too much money for too long, They just stuck you and your family in prison.

4. There was no electricity In order to see what you were doing at night, you would light a candle or a lamp. In order to see what you were doing at night, you would light a candle or a lamp. In order to stay warm on a cold night, you’d start a fire and throw in some coal. In order to stay warm on a cold night, you’d start a fire and throw in some coal. And burning coal is a dirty business – It leaves soot everywhere – on your clothes On the table, on your skin, in your lungs – YUCK!

5. Women were just women They couldn’t own property, couldn’t vote, couldn’t wear pants – what kind of life would that have been? They got paid pennies for the same job men got dollars for… Ok, maybe some things don’t change! They couldn’t own property, couldn’t vote, couldn’t wear pants – what kind of life would that have been? They got paid pennies for the same job men got dollars for… Ok, maybe some things don’t change!

6. Life was tough if you were poor… There was no welfare or social security. If you didn’t work, you didn’t eat – simple as that. Of course, people didn’t get paid much for working and, because there wasn’t any birth control, most families were large (and expensive). There was no welfare or social security. If you didn’t work, you didn’t eat – simple as that. Of course, people didn’t get paid much for working and, because there wasn’t any birth control, most families were large (and expensive). Ok, so this is in Nebraska and not London – but you Get the picture!

7. And children… Were abandoned to orphanages if the parents couldn’t afford to feed or keep them. Were abandoned to orphanages if the parents couldn’t afford to feed or keep them.

8. But of course if you were rich… Your children would be dressed in fine clothes and allowed to go to school instead of having to go to work. Your children would be dressed in fine clothes and allowed to go to school instead of having to go to work.

9. But if you were rich, you wouldn’t have to live in the dirty, coal soot city There were few taxes to pay since no one paid for the well being of other people in your town. You could even move There were few taxes to pay since no one paid for the well being of other people in your town. You could even move out of town to get out of town to get away from the filthy crowd. A painting of my house on the end of A dead-end street in London in 1900 – Yes, I am that old!