Child Labor in America: A Historical Overview of Reform and Legislation

In the early 1900s, nearly 2 million children were part of the U.S. labor force, working in dangerous conditions. Progressive reformers, alarmed by this, formed organizations like the National Child Labor Committee to advocate for children's welfare. Photographer Lois Wicks Hyn documented the harsh realities faced by child workers, raising awareness. By 1929, states had laws restricting child labor, but national legislation faced opposition from business interests. It wasn't until 1938 that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act, which restricted child labor and continues to protect workers today.

What percentage of America's labor force was made up of children in the early 1900s?

• 15%

• 10%

• 6%

• 3%

Which of the following industries did NOT employ child laborers in the early 1900s?

• Cotton fields

• Blueberry patches

• Canning factories

• Technology firms

What was the primary goal of the organizations formed by progressive reformers in the early 1900s?

• To reduce adult unemployment

• To support business interests

• To promote healthy development of children

• To increase child labor

Who was hired by the National Child Labor Committee to photograph children at work?

• Lewis Hine

• Walker Evans

• Dorothea Lange

• Ansel Adams

What was the impact of Lewis Hine's photographs on the child labor movement?

• They supported business interests

• They brought national attention to child labor issues

• They led to immediate federal legislation

• They were ignored by the public

By what year did every state have restrictions preventing children under 14 from working?

• 1929

• 1919

• 1949

• 1939

What was a major reason for the delay in national legislation against child labor?

• Opposition from southern cotton and Midwestern coal interests

• Lack of public interest

• Immediate Supreme Court approval

• Support from progressive reformers

In what year was the Fair Labor Standards Act signed?

• 1928

• 1933

• 1938

• 1943

Which U.S. President signed the Fair Labor Standards Act?

• Herbert Hoover

• Franklin D. Roosevelt

• Harry S. Truman

• Dwight D. Eisenhower

What is one of the lasting impacts of the Fair Labor Standards Act?

• It only applied to adult workers

• It continues to protect workers today

• It abolished all forms of labor

• It was repealed shortly after being signed