Child Labor In The 20th Century

Progressives in the 20th century also advocated for better work conditions through a variety of methods and reforms. Child labor, specifically in the 19th and 20th century surfaced as one of the main concerns of the Progressive movement because they believed children in America should attend school and in no circumstances work in harsh conditions. For example, in The Jungle by Upton Sinclair young Stanilovas experiences in child labor illustrates the horrible conditions children had to work through. “ In Summer the stench of the warm lard would be nauseating, and in winter the cans all but his freeze to his naked little fingers in the unheated cellar…and for this, at the end of the week, he would carry home three dollars to his family” (Sinclair,).