When was the child labor law enforced in the United States?
During the US industrial revolution, children were used as a prime source of labor. Many families, especially those who had immigrated and had no foundation in the country, were forced to send their children to work in order to afford housing and food. Children had nimble fingers, did what they were told, and could work long hours. Their small arms and hands could reach inside of industrial machines and fix problems adult workers couldn’t reach. In 1832, New England unions condemned child labor. Union workers protested the unfair and cruel treatment of children, who under typical work conditions often suffered serious, disabiling injuries. In 1836 the first minimum age laws were proposed for factory workers. Massachusettes passes first state child labor law that required children under age 15 employed by facories would have to attend school at least 3 months per year. So the first law was in 1836.
