History of Child Labor in the US

Introduction

Child labor occurs along a continuum, with harmful and exploitative work that endangers the welfare and potential of the child at one end of the spectrum and light work and often beneficial training and apprenticeship at the other. Basu and Nancy (pp. 37-76) mention National and international labor standard regulations with respect to what constitutes a legally permissible minimum age of employment accordingly depend typically on a range of criteria including (a) the type of work, as distinguished by the degree of hazard a child faces, or whether the child is subject to exploitation, or the worst forms of child labor; (b) the sector of employment, whether in agriculture, manufacturing, or family businesses or the household; and (c) the degree to which child labor work interferes with schooling, depending on the number of hours a child is put to work, say, per week (Basu and Nancy, pp. 37-76).

History

Child labor has a long, complex, and controversial history in the United States. Its roots begin in the traditions and practices of the Old World. Children have always worked, whether in their masters' fields, in the homes of their parents, or in the shops of local artisans (Basu and Nancy, pp. 37-76). In colonial America and before, children's work was not considered child labor. It was a child's duty to help his or her parents and family in any and all possible ways. Usually this took the form of manual labor, such as lending a helping hand around the house or on the family farm. Parents instilled the very young with the Protestant work ethic with which they had grown up. Work was considered good for a child. It provided him or her with experience, valuable knowledge and skills, a respect for hard work, and a desire to earn the fruits of one's labor. In essence, children learned to earn their keep and the values in doing so.

As the country moved from rural, agrarian farms to industrialized, urban communities, child work was increasingly divided by gender. The separation of the public and private sphere laid the groundwork for the kinds of work that female and male children were expected to perform. In the early 19th century, for example, middle-class daughters worked inside the home, watching younger siblings, cleaning the house, or cooking meals. In some instances, girls were hired out to mend, wash laundry, and make clothes piecemeal, all activities easily accomplished within the confines of the home (Ray, pp. 347-67). On the other hand, a young boy adapted to the world outside of the home and to the physical challenges it demanded of him, often apprenticed to a nearby artisan or to the nearest relative who could provide for him. Charged with providing services much like a common servant, as well as making time for study of a particular trade or craft, these children worked twice as hard for their room and board.

Prior to the 19th century, however, the abuse of child work, which eventually led to ...