Child Labor and Children’s Bureau

“In the 18th and centuries, child labor was affirmed not only as necessary for the nation to grow food and make products for the nation. The children’s character built and it kept them occupied and keep them out of trouble. This story is going to be about how children did adult work in the late 18th and early 19th century. Imagine having to work at ages 5-10. Well, in the 18th and 19th century, children have to work alongside adults to earn work experience and money.

First, Children had to work because they have anything to do and the parents feared they wouldn’t adapt to America. So the government had to take action by helping improving their lives. According to Paragraph #2 on Child Labor, “In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, child labor was justified not only as necessary to grow the nation’s food and manufacture the nation’s product, but as something that was good for the children themselves. It built character and kept the young people out of trouble.”

Next, The early laws were almost effective. The laws were ignored by a lot of employers and poorly carried out in many states.they performed duties only to control child labor, not to avoid it. In the 19th century, the number of children in the U.S. workforce was up very high. By 1900, one in six children were hired full time, more than 1,750,000 children worked in the workforce. According to Paragraph #3 on Child Labor, “The early laws were partly effective, however. The laws were ignored by many of employers and poorly enforced in many states. At best, They served only to regulate child labor, not to prevent it. Despite them, the number of children in the U.S. workforce remained high throughout the 19th century. Historians estimate that by 1900, one in six children were employed full time, and more than 1,750,000 labored in the workforce.”

Also, The National Child Labor Committee(NCLC) was set up in April 1904. Initially, this committee and the other organizations were focused on making changes at the state level. By 1912, the NCLC had settled that the national legislation was needed to put child labor to an end. According to Paragraph #4 on Child Labor, “The National Child Labor Committee(NCLC) was established in April 1904. Initially, this committee and the organizations focused on reform at the state level, but the resulting legislation was not uniform and was especially weak in the South. By 1912, the NCLC had concluded that national legislation was needed to end child labor.

How The Government Took Action

The government took action by trying to protect the children from child labor. First, Florence Kelley, one of the key members of the NCLC, a Philadelphia woman and reformer. She publicly supported the establishment of a federal children’s commission. A federal children’s commission is a government organization that would work to protect children. Florence Kelley goals were achieved in 1912 when the Children’s Bureau was created. Kelley also worked to promote the laws that would officially outlaw child labor.

According to Paragraph #5 on the Child Labor, “One key member of this movement was Florence Kelley, a Philadelphia woman and key reformer. She advocated the establishment of a federal children’s commission–a government organization that would work to protect children. Her goals were achieved in 1912 when the Children’s Bureau was created. Once it was established, Kelley worked to promote laws that would officially outlaw child labor.

Next, Owen R. Lovejoy capably identified the contributions of the NCLC in a speech given at the 1911 annual NCLC conference. Lovejoy said “We believe the record of the past seven years gives promise that the American people one ready to rally to the establishment of laws which, throughout the nation, shall an adequate opportunity, to play and grow and learn”. According to Paragraph #5 on Child Labor, “Owen R. Lovejoy aptly characterized the contributions of the National Child Labor Committee in a speech delivered at the 1911 annual NCLC conference. He stated “ We believe that the record of the past seven years gives promise that the American people are ready to rally to the establishment of laws which, throughout the nation, shall guarantee to every child an adequate opportunity to pay and grow and learn, and that we shall soon permit to be brought among those nations truly civilized that recognize in the child-life the most valuable assets among all their treasure.” Organizations such as the NCLC worked to protect the lives and rights of the nation’s children, especially in instances where they were required to hold employment.”

These paragraphs proves my thesis by stating that they went to great lengths to give children the freedom that they needed. They needed to live their lives as children by learning, growing, and playing. They shouldn’t have to work like adults and don’t get paid a lot of money.

Children’s Bureau

The Children’s Bureau was created in 1912. The Children’s Bureau grew out of the better spirit of the progressive movement and became the first agency in the world faithful to children’s interests. The agency’s initial reason was to analyze the best means to protect “a right to childhood.” According to Paragraph #1 of Children’s Bureau, “Created in 1912, the Children’s Bureau developed out of the reform spirit of the progressive movement and became the first agency in the world devoted to children’s interests. The agency’s initial purpose was to investigate the best means to protect “a right to childhood”.”

Next, The NCLC first suggested legislation in 1905 for the Children’s Bureau, following a plan, seen by Julia Lathrop and Florence Kelley. Kelley began talking about the need for the bureau in a bunch of lectures. So, the young children were employed in factories, mines, and textile mills. A few years, Lillian Wald brought together a group that successfully influenced President Theodore Roosevelt, known as Teddy, to support a federal agency faithful to children’s interests. According to Paragraph #2 of Children’s Bureau, “The National Child Labor Committee first proposed legislation in 1905 for the Children’s Bureau, following a plan, envisioned by Julia Lathrop and Florence Kelley. Kelley began discussing the need for the bureau in a series of lectures, describing the conditions under which young children were employed in factories, mines, and textile mills. A few years later, Lillian Wald organized a group that successfully lobbied President Theodore Roosevelt to support a federal agency devoted to children’s interests.”

Then, The Children’s Bureau managed to research in the area of child labor, composing information on child labor laws in every state and in the process of convincing the director, Julia Lathrop, that only federal action would make child labor consistent. In 1916, The Keating-Act was striving to discourage child labor. According to Paragraph #3 on Children’s Bureau, “The Children’s Bureau conducted research in the area of child labor, compiling information on child labor in every state and in the process of convincing the director, Julia Lathrop, that only federal action would make child labor laws uniform. The Keating-Act, passed in 1916, attempting to discourage child labor.”

In conclusion, The children should’ve been enjoying their childhood instead of working because they need to grow in mindset and in skills, otherwise then working amongst adults. They should’ve been in school getting education instead worrying about being put at risk.”

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