KEATING-OWEN ACT: History of the Act
Before the Keating-Owen Act: Before the KOA, many families had worked in farm life and there was not as much need for workers. With families working in farms, jobs were open to immigrants for lower pay, thus cheaper labor and quickening the pace for economic increase. Subsequently, immigrants were competing with children, who were apart of poorer families in need of stable income. Then the National Child Labor Committee was formed which regulated the need for child workers.
During the Keating-Owen Act: KOA stopped the interstate commerce of goods manufactured by children. In other words, bring child labor to a hault. The act was then challenged to be unconstitutional and later was decided that, although child labor isn’t good, congress’ power cannot regulate trade or interstate commerce.
After the Keating-Owen Act: An even larger national debate sprung up due to the court’s ruling and so many people continued to rewrite the act, however it continued to be “unconstitutional” until finally child labor became “a proper subject for regulation under the commerce clause”.
During the Keating-Owen Act: KOA stopped the interstate commerce of goods manufactured by children. In other words, bring child labor to a hault. The act was then challenged to be unconstitutional and later was decided that, although child labor isn’t good, congress’ power cannot regulate trade or interstate commerce.
After the Keating-Owen Act: An even larger national debate sprung up due to the court’s ruling and so many people continued to rewrite the act, however it continued to be “unconstitutional” until finally child labor became “a proper subject for regulation under the commerce clause”.
