Final answer:
During the Progressive Era, children faced exploitation in the workplace, leading to reforms such as limitations on work hours and conditions, yet these laws were sometimes not enforced or deemed unconstitutional. Compulsory education laws played a significant role in curbing child labor, and eventually, the Great Depression prompted more effective federal legislation.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Progressive Era, children were exploited through their employment in industries with terrible working conditions and minuscule wages. Progressive reforms led to the reduction of child labor, with states implementing laws that limited the working hours and conditions for children. Despite these efforts, legislation was often evaded or deemed unconstitutional, which prolonged child exploitation.
By the end of the nineteenth century, however, compulsory education laws effectively shifted child labor from factories to schools. Internationally, different responses to child labor reflected levels of industrialization and cultural norms. In Great Britain, debates highlighted contrasting views on child labor, stressing the complexity of the issue.
Ultimately, it wasn't until the Great Depression that federal action, like prohibiting the interstate shipment of goods produced by children, became more successful, though it faced constitutional challenges. Over time, global norms shifted towards more stringent regulation and education requirements, effectively curbing the prevalence of child labor in many industrialized nations.