The underage child employment. congress then passed the

TheProgressive Era rose as a response to immense changes brought about bymodernizations, growth of corporations, pollution and corruption in thegovernment. During the period between 1908 to 1920, there was widespread childlabor in the U. S. soil. Children would work in industrialized factories in themidst of all the pollution and difficult working conditions all-day and eventhrough extended hours. Even though this was a practice against the law, it wasconsidered helpful especially for those children who came from not well-offamilies. The children were subjected to harsh working conditions and evenduring the winters, they would work upwards of 50 hours a week.

The childrenwanted to go to school and learn but were not able since they were working allthe time. The working sites were not only risky but harmful as well for thechildren. Due to exposure to such conditions, most children would findthemselves indulging in destructive behaviors such as drug abuse in order tonumb what they felt on the inside; pain. Hine’s photographs aided in creatingawareness of the much needed child labor reform. This resulted in many statesbanning underage child employment. Congress then passed the Fair LaborStandards Act in 1938, which was declared constitutional in 1941 settingworking hours to 40 per week and a 40 cents wage payment per hour.

The actprohibited employment in industries with hazardous conditions of ages below 18while employment in non-hazardous environments was set at 16. This played a bigrole in the progressive era in America where major issues were discussed andworked upon one after another.