What actions did progressive take to deal with the issue of child labor?
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Progressive era reformers took various actions to address the issue of child labor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here are some of the measures they advocated and implemented:
1. Legislation: Progressives pushed for and successfully enacted laws aimed at regulating child labor. These laws included age limits on employment, restrictions on working hours, and mandating school attendance.
2. Factory inspections: Progressives advocated for regular inspections of factories and workplaces to ensure compliance with child labor laws. This helped identify and penalize violators who employed underage workers or subjected them to hazardous conditions.
3. Awareness and education: Progressives played a crucial role in raising awareness about the damaging effects of child labor on children's physical and mental well-being. They campaigned for public support, using publications, speeches, and organized events to educate the public about the need for reform.
4. Formation of child labor committees: Progressive reformers established organizations and committees dedicated to combating child labor. These groups worked to mobilize public sentiment against the exploitation of children and lobbied for legal and societal changes.
5. Progressive-era activism: Activists within the progressive movement, such as Florence Kelley and Lewis Hine, worked tirelessly to expose the harsh realities of child labor through investigative journalism and photography. Their efforts helped generate public outcry and political pressure to reform labor laws.
6. Supreme Court ruling: Progressives also sought legal recourse to address child labor by advocating for a landmark Supreme Court decision. In 1918, the court ruled in Hammer v. Dagenhart that a federal law banning the shipment of products produced using child labor was unconstitutional. The decision encouraged proponents of child labor regulation to focus on state-level reforms instead.
It is important to note that progress in addressing child labor was gradual and varied across states, with some regions making faster reforms than others. The collective efforts of progressive reformers, lawmakers, activists, and public sentiment played a significant role in bringing about changes to child labor laws and working conditions for children.