Why were child labor laws created?
Child labor is the employment of children who are too young to work legally. It harms children or prevents them from attending school. Child labor exists in many parts of the world. In the United States, it is illegal for very valid reasons.HistoryDuring the American Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, factory workers–including women and children–often worked 10- to 12-hour days, six days a week. Children were often preferred as workers because they ate less, did not argue or rebel, and worked for lower wages.FunctionChildren were able to get their bodies and hands into areas that adults couldn’t, and they had small fingers for detail work, making them ideal for repair and textile work. Children also worked in mines and in agriculture. Their jobs made them especially prone to injury and death.EffectsAs labor unions began to form and build strength, a movement for protecting children in the workplace developed.
