When many of Hine's photographs were published,
the public was
shocked. People were finally
motivated
to address the issue of child labor.
Soon many states passed laws protecting children in
the workplace
. But despite these laws, children still
worked
hard. The NCLC pushed for a federal law for
child
workers. In 1916 and 1918, laws were passed. But
those
laws were overturned by the Supreme Court as
being
unconstitutional. In 1924, Congress passed an
amendment to
the Constitution. But not enough
states ratified it, so it didn't become law. In 1938, the
Fair Labor Standards Act was passed. It set a national
minimum wage and maximum hours to be worked in
a day. More important, it set limitations on child labor.
Today, children are protected by child labor laws. The
federal government has set the minimum working
age at 14 for jobs other than babysitting or delivering
newspapers. In some states the minimum working
age may be higher. Children's lives are much easier
today than they were more than a century ago.
Refer to the section in the article "From Farms to
Factories."
How did working in cotton mills affect the well-being
of child
workers?
Select the two correct answers.
Their work was boring because they did one
repetitive task.
They lived in houses owned by the mills.
Their lungs would be filled with cotton lint.
They did not have time to attend school, so
many did not know how to read or write.



Answer :

In cotton mills, the well-being of child workers was impacted in the following ways:

1. Their lungs would be filled with cotton lint:
- Working in cotton mills exposed child workers to cotton dust and lint in the air, leading to serious respiratory issues over time. Inhaling these particles could cause respiratory problems such as lung irritation, coughing, and even more severe conditions like brown lung disease (byssinosis).

2. They did not have time to attend school, so many did not know how to read or write:
- Child labor in cotton mills often deprived young workers of the opportunity to receive an education. The long hours and strenuous work in the mills left little to no time for schooling, resulting in a generation of children growing up without the ability to read or write, limiting their future prospects and opportunities.

These two factors contributed significantly to the negative impact on the well-being of child workers in cotton mills during that time period. The physical health risks from inhaling cotton particles and the lack of educational opportunities had long-lasting effects on the lives of these young individuals.