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History of child labor in the United States—part 2: the reform movement

2017; Bureau of Labor Statistics; Linguagem: Inglês

10.21916/mlr.2017.2

1937-4658

Michael Schuman,

Sex work and related issues

As progressive child labor reformers gained traction during the last quarter of the 19th century, efforts expanded at the state level to outlaw the employment of small children.The move toward state-level reforms proved challenging.Many states, particularly in the South, resisted the effort.Frequently, child labor law opponents denied the problem existed and aggressively extolled the virtues of children in the workplace.This foiled the goal of achieving uniform laws across the country through state action.The failures at the state level caused many reformers by the early 1900s to believe that a federal law might be the best option.The limited role of the federal government under the Constitution, however, made such a prospect difficult.Many constitutional experts, Congressmen, and Presidents believed such a law was unconstitutional.In the face of widespread public support for curtailing child labor, a law based on the Commerce Clause of the Constitution-giving Congress the authority to regulate commerce between states or with foreign nations-was passed in 1916.This article concentrates on the reform movement up through the passage of that law.I am glad to see there is going to be a meeting here for child labor.I am really tired of seeing so many big children ten years old playing in the streets. 1 -Prominent lady citizen Don't take these boys away from us!We have just bought these uniforms, and they were made to order. 2 - Shopkeeper in Cleveland, OhioThere is a street in Lawrence, MA, named Camella Teoli Way.To know the story of how that street came to be named is to know the story of a struggle.The struggle of Camella Teoli is one of a young Italian immigrant who started work in a mill and ultimately spoke before Congress. 3Teoli's struggle is a battle against child labor. 4The public story of Camella Teoli begins and ends with the 14-year-old's testimony to Congress in March 1912.There, in front of an audience including Helen Taft, the wife of President William Howard Taft, Teoli told her story. 5 Teoli was an employee of the American Woolen Company in Lawrence, MA.As a result of a new state law, the