Impact
Hine realized that children were being taken advantage of and lacking education and a normal childhood. He interviewed a wide range of people and compiled all of his photographs to release to the public. When he snuck into the factories to take his photographs, often young children were rushed out of sight. Later, the managers would tell Hine that those children didn't actually work there, instead they were just stopping by or visiting a family member.1 Laws existing, such as children under 15 were required to go to school at least three months a year, and attempting to limit children to 10 hour work days were not enforced.2 Hine started releasing his photos in hopes that the world would see that new child labor laws needed to be implemented.
In 1938, the first child labor law to stick was passed. This was the Fair Labor Standards Act, better known as the Federal Wage and Hour Law. This law created a maximum of 40 hour work weeks and a minimum of 40 cents an hour. Children working in hazardous facilities had to be 18, and children working in non-hazardous facilities had to be at least 16. Children who were 14 or 15 were allowed to be employed during vacation and non-school hours, but only in particular jobs.3
In 1938, the first child labor law to stick was passed. This was the Fair Labor Standards Act, better known as the Federal Wage and Hour Law. This law created a maximum of 40 hour work weeks and a minimum of 40 cents an hour. Children working in hazardous facilities had to be 18, and children working in non-hazardous facilities had to be at least 16. Children who were 14 or 15 were allowed to be employed during vacation and non-school hours, but only in particular jobs.3
1. The History Place™, "Child Labor in America," The History Place, http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/about.htm.
2. Child Labor Public Education Project, "Child Labor Reform and the U.S. Labor Movement," Child Labor Public Education Project, https://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/laborctr/child_labor/about/us_history.html.
3.The History Place™, "Child Labor in America," The History Place, http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/about.htm.
2. Child Labor Public Education Project, "Child Labor Reform and the U.S. Labor Movement," Child Labor Public Education Project, https://www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/laborctr/child_labor/about/us_history.html.
3.The History Place™, "Child Labor in America," The History Place, http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/about.htm.