Child labor in the United States became a subject of serious regulation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coinciding with the country’s rapid industrialization during the Industrial Revolution. Before this time, child labor was widespread and lacked proper oversight, resulting in children toiling for extended periods under dangerous circumstances in factories, mines, and various other industrial environments.
During the 1830s, the first notable efforts to control child labor began at the state level. For instance, Massachusetts enacted a regulation in 1836 that banned children under 15 from working over 10 hours a day (de Chantal, 2020). However, these early rules were not widely applied or effectively enforced. It was not until the Progressive Era, from the 1890s to the 1920s, that a more comprehensive strategy to address child labor was adopted (National Child Labor Committee, 2023).
One such reformer was photographer Lewis Hine, who captured powerful images depicting children working in hazardous and challenging conditions. These pictures were essential in increasing the public’s understanding of the brutal truths of child labor. Because of this, activists and labor supporters were even more committed to advocating for stricter regulations to protect children from exploitation. They passionately worked to pass laws that would ensure the safety and welfare of young employees.
In 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act significantly changed how the federal government regulated child labor. This law established consistent rules across the country, setting the minimum working age and limiting the number of hours kids could work. It specifically made it illegal for children under 16 to work while school was in session and limited dangerous jobs to those 18 and older (National Child Labor Committee, 2023).
Although regulations against employing children have existed for a while, they have not been adequately enforced. Even now, child labor can be found in the US, particularly in farming and among undocumented immigrant groups. The Department of Labor supervises the enforcement of child labor laws nationally to safeguard young workers and protect their education. The ongoing work to monitor and regulate child labor emphasizes the importance of these protections in upholding the rights and welfare of children in the workforce.
References
de Chantal, J. (2020). “Extra! Extra!”: Boston regulates child labor in the streets, 1880–1895. The Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth, 13(2), 226-246.
National Child Labor Committee. (2023). The American child, volume 1. (2023). Legare Street Press.