Question

History of Child Labor Laws in US

Forms of child labor, including indentured servitude and child slavery, have existed throughout American history. As industrialization moved workers from farms and home workshops into urban areas and factory work, children were often preferred, because factory owners viewed them as more manageable, cheaper, and less likely to strike. Growing opposition to child labor in the North caused many factories to move to the South. By 1900, states varied considerably in whether they had child labor standards and, in their content, and degree of enforcement.
Union organizing and child labor reform were often intertwined, and common initiatives were conducted by organizations led by working women and middle-class consumers, such as state Consumers’ Leagues and Working Women’s Societies. These organizations generated the National Consumers’ League in 1899 and the National Child Labor Committee in 1904, which shared goals of challenging child labor, including through anti-sweatshop campaigns and labeling programs. The National Child Labor Committee’s work to end child labor was combined with efforts to provide free, compulsory education for all children, and culminated in the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938, which set federal standards for child labor.

1832 New England unions condemn child labor.

The New England Association of Farmers, Mechanics and Other Workingmen resolved that “Children should not be allowed to labor in the factories from morning till night, without any time for healthy recreation and mental culture,” for it “endangers their . . . well-being and health.”

1836 First state child labor law

Massachusetts requires children under 15 working in factories to attend school at least 3 months/year.

1881 Newly formed AFL supports state minimum age laws.

The first national convention of the American Federation of Labor passes a resolution calling on states to ban children under 14 from all gainful employment.

1916 New federal law sanctions state violators

First federal child labor law prohibits movement of goods across state lines if minimum age laws are violated (law in effect only until 1918, when it’s declared unconstitutional, then revised, passed, and declared unconstitutional again)
1938 Federal regulation of child labor achieved in Fair Labor Standards Act
For the first time, minimum ages of employment and hours of work for children are regulated by federal law.

Create a Child Labor Bill
Directions: Using the following questions as a guide and using the worksheets that you completed to help you with ideas, create a child labor law that would be used to give children safety and protection in the labor force during the Industrial Revolution. Keep these questions in mind: Why do children have to work? At what age should children be allowed to work? What is permissible and what is abusive relating to children working? What kinds of jobs should children be allowed to do? What types of jobs should children be prohibited from doing? How many hours per week should children be permitted to work? What time of day should children be allowed to work? Who is responsible for a child working? (5 Points)

Write your Child Labor Law in this box. Your response should be a paragraph of at least 7 Sentences. Make sure that you answer the questions from the writing prompt:

Answer 1

Here is a sample Child Labor Law:

“Children under the age of 14 shall not be permitted to work in any capacity. Children between the ages of 14 and 16 may work in non-hazardous jobs for a maximum of 20 hours per week, and only outside of school hours. Children between the ages of 16 and 18 may work in non-hazardous jobs for a maximum of 30 hours per week. Hazardous jobs, such as those involving heavy machinery or dangerous chemicals, shall be prohibited for all children under the age of 18. Employers shall be responsible for ensuring that children are not working in violation of these regulations and shall be subject to penalties for any violations. The government shall be responsible for enforcing these regulations and conducting regular inspections to ensure compliance.”

This law aims to protect children from exploitation and abuse in the labor force while still allowing them to work in safe and appropriate jobs. It balances the need for children to contribute to their families’ income with their need for education and healthy development.