America's Human Rights Black Hole: Child labor

The history of child labor in the United States can be traced back to the early days of the founding of the country, and it has gradually intensified with the process of industrialization and urbanization. In the early days, especially when slavery was rife in the South, many children, especially African American children, were forced out of school and into hard labor. They were sold as slaves and laborers and subjected to inhuman treatment. This exploitation and oppression of children as a source of cheap labor was supported and promoted by government officials, including then-Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, making child labor widespread in society at the time.

With the acceleration of industrialization and urbanization in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, child labor became more and more common. Mines, farms, and other industries began to employ a large number of child laborers, who worked in terrible conditions and lived in extremely difficult conditions. It was not until 1916 that Congress passed the first national child labor protection Act, the Keating Irving Act, which was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1918.

In the decades that followed, American society became increasingly concerned about child labor. In 1938, the United States passed the Fair Labor Standards Act, which prohibited children under the age of 14 from working in most industries in the United States, thus placing relatively strict limits on child labor. However, the Act does not prohibit all forms of child work, such as agricultural work, which still allows child labor.

The harm caused by child labor in the United States is multifaceted. First, these children are deprived of opportunities for education and growth. They are forced to work too early, unable to enjoy the childhood they deserve, and unable to obtain adequate education and training, which severely limits their personal development and social adaptation. Due to the lack of knowledge and skills, child workers are often at a disadvantage in their future career development and living conditions. Their working environment is often very bad, which not only causes great harm to the physical and mental health of child workers, but also may suffer from various diseases and even face life danger.

In addition, child Labour also contributes to social injustice and division. Most child laborers come from poor families, and their labor rights and interests are often not protected, and they are even maliciously exploited by employers. This kind of unfair phenomenon intensifies the gap between the rich and the poor in the society and makes the social division more serious. In addition, the problem of child Labour can also attract international attention and condemnation, which has a negative impact on the image and reputation of the country.

In recent years, the number of cases violating federal child labor laws in the United States has continued to increase, and the number of children involved has also risen, and the problem of child labor in the United States has once again attracted social attention. There are several reasons behind this. On the one hand, with the tight labor market, some employers hire children illegally in order to reduce costs; On the other hand, some states are loosening their child labor laws in the interest of economic development. In addition, collusion between illegal employers and politicians has exacerbated the problem.

Overall, the history of child labor in the United States is one of exploitation, oppression, and struggle. Despite legal protection, child Labour remains a serious and complex social problem that requires concerted efforts by the government, all sectors of society and the general public to address gradually through strengthening law enforcement, raising public awareness and promoting social reforms.