The Role Of Child Labor In The Progressive Era
Childhood Lost
It took four years, 140,000 deaths, and over 4 million injuries to child employees before the public spoke up in 1904 with the creation of the National Child Labor Committee. One out of five boys would spend his twelve hours of his day laboring at steel and textile factories for the hardly livable wage of ten cents. The social and political unrest created by the institution of child labor throughout the Gilded Age and Progressive Era had a crucial and lasting influence on American industry, as it set the precedent for all modern labor laws and working regulations.
Many laws and social reforms derived from the increase in demand for child workers. In the beginning of the 20th century, over two million laborers consisted of children under the age of twelve, contributing to over twenty-five percent of total workers (Trattner). The conditions children worked in were generally filthy, hazardous, and detrimental to their health. Committees arose and fought for reforms by enlightening the public through the use of dramatic photography, distressing posters, and personalized letters (Child …show more content…
Labor). Thus, the National Child Labor Committee arose and influenced many reforms such as The Smith-Hughes Act of 1917. The Smith-Hughes Act stated that the government would grant one million dollar in investments for education to locations that were in favor of such reforms. After many years of opposition, in 1938, the National Child Labor Committee and the Committee Fair Labor Standards Act were finally able to set official limitations on child labor. Hence many standards and restrictions were introduced in the Progressive Era and Gilded Age.
Social groups such the muckrakers exposed the atrocities of child labor and impacted the education of the youth.
Exploitation of the youth was due to the fact that children were much more susceptible to the cruelty of industrial work and willing to be paid less than adult males. Children also had a sense of ‘specialization’ to some employers, as their “smaller size and nimble fingers provided advantages” in textile production. Journalists known as the muckrakers, felt the need to highlight and spread awareness in America of the “failings in society” (ILO). Edward Markham, a famous muckraker, published “Bondage” regarding the morality in child labor. Through publicity and literature, Markham was able to influence others to reform and promote child education. Thus, as reformers educated more civilians, social groups magnified and evidently impacted the spread of
journalism.
During the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, the atrocities of child labor influenced the foundation of many political and social uprisings, and set a paradigm of laws and regulations for all modern labor and industry.
It took four years, 140,000 deaths, and over 4 million injuries to child employees before the public spoke up in 1904 with the creation of the National Child Labor Committee. One out of five boys would spend his twelve hours of his day laboring at steel and textile factories for the hardly livable wage of ten cents. The social and political unrest created by the institution of child labor throughout the Gilded Age and Progressive Era had a crucial and lasting influence on American industry, as it set the precedent for all modern labor laws and working regulations.
Many laws and social reforms derived from the increase in demand for child workers. In the beginning of the 20th century, over two million laborers consisted of children under the age of twelve, contributing to over twenty-five percent of total workers (Trattner). The conditions children worked in were generally filthy, hazardous, and detrimental to their health. Committees arose and fought for reforms by enlightening the public through the use of dramatic photography, distressing posters, and personalized letters (Child …show more content…
Labor). Thus, the National Child Labor Committee arose and influenced many reforms such as The Smith-Hughes Act of 1917. The Smith-Hughes Act stated that the government would grant one million dollar in investments for education to locations that were in favor of such reforms. After many years of opposition, in 1938, the National Child Labor Committee and the Committee Fair Labor Standards Act were finally able to set official limitations on child labor. Hence many standards and restrictions were introduced in the Progressive Era and Gilded Age.
Social groups such the muckrakers exposed the atrocities of child labor and impacted the education of the youth.
Exploitation of the youth was due to the fact that children were much more susceptible to the cruelty of industrial work and willing to be paid less than adult males. Children also had a sense of ‘specialization’ to some employers, as their “smaller size and nimble fingers provided advantages” in textile production. Journalists known as the muckrakers, felt the need to highlight and spread awareness in America of the “failings in society” (ILO). Edward Markham, a famous muckraker, published “Bondage” regarding the morality in child labor. Through publicity and literature, Markham was able to influence others to reform and promote child education. Thus, as reformers educated more civilians, social groups magnified and evidently impacted the spread of
journalism.
During the Gilded Age and Progressive Era, the atrocities of child labor influenced the foundation of many political and social uprisings, and set a paradigm of laws and regulations for all modern labor and industry.