Child Labor During The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution undoubtedly lifted America to an unparalleled age of innovation. This introduction of new sources of energy and novel inventions certainly improved production rates, but lowered the quality of life for many. For example, to keep up with the increasing demands of this era, the use of child labor became commonplace and consequently had a lasting impact on America. These sad times allowed for the emergence of courageous individuals rose to force legislation to try and end child labor in America.

Prior to the Industrial Revolution, most people lived and worked on farms and any industry that did exist, only did so on a small scale. Only about five percent of the population worked in an industry and it usually was still

This meant that the government would—for the most part—refrain from regulating factories and businesses. Child labor consequently grew freely (Laissez–faire). To further cement this ideology, the Supreme Court decided in Hammer v. Dagenhart (1918) that Congress does not have the right to restrict activities involving children, even under the Commerce Clause (Hammer v. Dagenhart 1918). The Supreme Court therefore ruled the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act of 1916 unconstitutional. This congressional act had banned the sale of products from any mine that employed children under that age of 16, any shop or factory that employed children younger than 14, or anywhere where children under the age of 16 were working for more than eight hours a day or working at night. Its repealing therefore dealt a major blow towards those against child labor (Keating-Owen Child Labor Act). Moreover, in Bailey v. Drexel Furniture Co. (1922), the Supreme Court ruled that Congress could no longer implement taxes on employers who hired children (Ed. Leonard W. Levy and Kenneth L. Karst). However, this does not mean that there were no advocates for the overworked

Jane Addams also fought for children's rights and worked to establish child labor laws. She was the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace prize. President Taft created the Children’s Bureau to combat child labor. Its role was to investigate "upon all matters pertaining to the welfare of children and child life among all classes of our people.” Another notable fighter for the cause was Grace Abbott who, after being assigned to the Children’s Bureau in 1917 when joining the Department of Labor, immediately began applying for the first laws restricting child labor. In 1921, she led the campaign to amend the constitution to restrict child labor (Advocates For Children). These freedom fighters primarily enforced their arguments by illustrating how a lack of education amongst the nation’s youth will inhibit its growth. However, it was the market crash that was most significant in gaining public opinion as American’s wanted adults to have access to all of the available jobs during the Great Depression