Pros And Cons Of The Child Labor Amendment

An educator who saw children getting taken out of school to go work once said, “Man is the only animal that lives on its young.” Child labor has been an ongoing debate in American culture. Although there are many reasons why the Child Labor Amendment should be ratified, states were, and are still today, justified in their refusal giving the government too much power, organizations and laws being created , and its decline in popularity over the years. Child labor has been a problem in America since the Industrial Revolution. During this time, going to school was considered a luxury. Most kids dropped out after primary school to work as “chippers” in turpentine camps (Amidon). In 1911, more than two million kids under the age of 16 worked 12 …show more content…
Mayor La Guardia said, “It is not the amendment which is chiefly opposed, it is the economics of the amendment” (Amidon). Freedman states that the amendment was killed by people who believed it would increase federal power (94). In some ways, this is true. The Child Labor Amendment would allow Congress to limit, regulate, and prohibit kids from working under the age of 18. It also states that all state child labor laws shall be suspended to give effect to those created by congress (Adimon). This means that any state law that had been created by a state’s government will no longer be in effect so that the amendment’s laws will take place. Also, in 1916 and 1918, the Supreme Court declared Congress’s laws on child labor unconstitutional because it “denied children the freedom to contract work” (Freedman 94). This showed the people that the laws Congress was creating were too strict on the freedom and the rights of American children. Although Congress was just trying to protect young workers, both the people and the Supreme Court believed they were taking it a little too …show more content…
Child labor increased in the 1880’s and started rapidly growing in the 1930’s. In 1900, child labor was at an all time high in the United States with 21.66% of 10 to 14 year olds employed. Then, in 1920, there was a dramatic drop to 13.32%, and then in 1930 it was at 5.56% (“Exploring the issues…”). The Great Depression limited child labor, as well as powerful labor unions and growing industries needing better educated employees diminished child labor in the 1930’s (Freedman 94). Although child labor in the United States was getting lower, in 1935, child labor increased over 150% of 14 and 15 year olds all over the world (Amidon). This must mean that we were doing something right to help protect our