America at the Time When Child Labor Laws Enacted

Nearly a century ago when dealing with child labor in the United States of America, it seemed like fair child labor laws were at one point unlegislatable when it involved different states. So United States Congress worked hard to place a ban on products made by children from being sold from state to state (interstate commerce). The Keating - Owen Act of 1916 (also known as the Wicks Bill) disallowed interstate commerce of any product made by children at least 14 years old. In addition to that, children ( 14 - 16 years of age) that worked 8 hours a day, more than 5 days a week in factories, and nights could not have their products sold on the market due to unfair labor laws. This was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson.

A famous act known as the Keating - Owen Act was a statute enacted by United States Congress created to address child labor perceived evils which barred the sale of goods made by children from being sold commercially. The act was ruled unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court. This all began when a man named Roland Dagenhart along with his two sons worked in a cotton mill in Charlotte, North Carolina protested that the Keating - Owen law was not constitutional. The case was brought into the national spot light afterwards.

In 1918, the Hammer v. Dagenhart case asked these questions to United States Congress: Does United States Congress has the right to direct the commercialization of goods made by children under the age of 14 years which was specified previously in the Keating - Owens Act of 1916? And does United States Congress also have the right to regulate commerce between states when child labor is involved?

The United States Supreme Court gave an opinion based on majority rule that United States Congress was not allowed to regulate commerce of goods that are manufactured by children. That also struck down the Keating - Owen Act of 1916. The Supreme Court also added that the issue was not a moral case, even if it involved cotton.