Final answer:
Child labor laws in the U.S. have evolved gradually over time, with early laws like Ohio's 1908 legislation leading to the comprehensive federal legislation in 1938. These laws restricted working hours, conditions, and set minimum ages for employment. Internationally, similar efforts were made earlier, as seen with Prussia's Child Labor Act.
Step-by-step explanation:
Child Labor Legislation
Child labor laws prohibiting child labor have been a focus of social reform throughout history. In the Unites States, progress was gradual, with early attempts like Ohio's 1908 law that limited the workweek for boys under sixteen and girls under eighteen to forty-eight hours. However, compared to many industrialized nations, the U.S. had less stringent restrictions. Notably, a federal child labor law was passed only in 1938, as part of the New Deal legislation during the Great Depression. This law aimed to encourage school attendance by setting a minimum age limit and restricting the type of work and hours for children.
Initial efforts to protect children from labor exploitation were not always successful. For example, a 1916 federal law prohibiting the interstate commerce of goods made by children was struck down by the Supreme Court. The court ruled that it overstepped states' rights as outlined in the Tenth Amendment. Nonetheless, these efforts eventually led to more comprehensive laws to regulate labor conditions, including child labor, hours, and workplace safety.
Child labor laws were part of a broader move toward social legislation that sought to improve working conditions for all, including mandating minimum wages, maximum hours, health and safety standards, and anti-discrimination policies. International examples show that even earlier, places like Prussia enacted Child Labor Acts that limited children's factory employment and work hours well before similar U.S. laws were established.