Child Labor

"Child labor presents an economic problem that is intertwined with the other problems of our communities. It is caused by sheer poverty, by the poverty of parents, by the ambition of parents and by the ignorance of parents as well as by the law of market which demands that a product be turned out a the least possible cost to sell at the highest possible price." -- Jane Addams, "Who is to Blame for Child Labor?," July 23, 1914

The advent of industrialization in the early to mid 1800’s introduced brand new conflicts in regards to the labor force. When industrialization began in the United States, the labor conditions were dangerous and low-paying. Child labor became commonplace. In 1900, 18% of all American workers were under the age of 16. This was widely because children were able to fit in tight spaces and operate small machinery. It was also acceptable to pay children lower wages than an adult, which allowed factories to save more money. Young children, many below the age of seven, would work over twelve hour shifts for usually a dollar or less a day. Young workers would often get hurt while working. Many would end up permanently damaging parts of their bodies, such as losing fingers or limbs. The working class accepted these dangerous, industrial jobs, and had their children working in factories because they needed the extra income. Many of these children were from poorer families, or were immigrants. Some families even argued that child labor was ‘good’ for their kids, as it would teach them responsibility. Children who worked from a young age did so at the expense of schooling and education.

Labor activism was a large part of Addams’ work. In the days of Jane Addams, the labor situation was not as protective as it is today. Jane Addams was dedicated to ensuring that labor conditions were improved, that there was better compensation for labor, and that women and children were not overworked. In creating Hull-House, Addams and the other residents were able to live and work among the poor. Because they worked so closely with the poor, Addams and other reformers were able to gain a better understanding of labor effects and what solutions were needed to provide for the poor.

Jane Addams, and the many other social workers, did face opposition on a regular basis. For example, Addams faced a major challenge in trying to change labor laws that allowed children to perform on stage. Child labor laws had to be changed on municipal, county, state, and federal levels. There had already been pre-existing laws in some states meant to curtail child labor, but many of the laws either had exploitable loopholes, were not enforced, or simply did not undertake enough to stop child labor. Addams pushed heavily for a federal bureau to protect the needs of children. The lack of education and opportunities for children who had to work to support their family were a major part of Addams’ argument for why child labor needed to be eradicated.

Along the way, child labor activists were able to find success and also overcome failure. Addams became involved with The National Child Labor Committee, which was a key player in exposing the national problem of child labor. One of the ways they brought more attention to the topic was by hiring photographer Lewis Hine to really capture the poor working conditions American boys and girls were subjected to on a daily basis. His photos sparked national outrage. In 1912, the National Child Labor Committee was able to establish the United States Children Bureau that would solely work on reforming child labor on both the local and federal level. Although many strides were made to combat child labor, there were some pitfalls along the way. For instance, in 1916 Congress passed the Keating-Owens Act, which prohibited sales of goods from factories or companies that had children under the age of fourteen through sixteen (dependant on nature of work) working for them, or had anyone under the age of fourteen working during the hours of 7:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Although this was a win for child labor reformists, it was deemed unconstitutional just a year later. Despite years of setbacks, the Fair Labor Standards Act was passed in 1938. The act prohibited the employment of minors, established a minimum wage, and introduced the 40-hour workweek structure that is used presently in the United States.

Recommended primary sources:

Addams, Jane , “Child Labor Legislation: A Requisite for Industrial Efficiency, May 1905,” Jane Addams Digital Edition, https://digital.janeaddams.ramapo.edu/items/show/3897.

Addams, Jane and Federation of Chicago Settlements, “Chicago Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Houses, "Newsboy Conditions in Chicago," 1903,” Jane Addams Digital Edition, https://digital.janeaddams.ramapo.edu/items/show/301.

Addams, Jane, “Testimony Before State Judicial Committee on Child Labor, April 13, 1905 (excerpts),” Jane Addams Digital Edition, https://digital.janeaddams.ramapo.edu/items/show/8249.