Final answer:
Reformers fought for child labor laws to protect children from harsh working conditions, but these measures were initially met with resistance from families who relied on the extra income and employers who benefitted from the cheap labor. Children and their families had mixed feelings about the laws due to the potential financial impact. Over time, mandatory education redirected children from factories to schoolrooms, aiding in a decline in child labor and illiteracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reformers fought for child labor laws to protect children from the severe working conditions in factories and mines during the Industrial Revolution. The intense labor forwent an education, compromising children's future livelihoods and subjecting them to dangerous workplace hazards. Their advocacy led to laws that banned employment for very young children and limited working hours for older children. These measures were met with resistance from various quarters including working-class families dependent on the income, employers seeking cheap labor, and some politicians.
Children working under these harsh conditions likely experienced a mix of relief and uncertainty when child labor laws were passed. They may have been relieved at being spared from exhausting labor but also concerned about how their families would cope financially without their incomes. Families might have had mixed feelings about these laws; while they would have been concerned about their children's well-being, the loss of income could pose a significant hardship.
Family finances and the need for child labor were often balanced against the push for reform. Even as child labor was curbed, many parents still needed their children to work, which led to laws being evaded. However, as education became mandatory, more children found their way from factories to classrooms, contributing to a decline in illiteracy and opening up better prospects for their future.