Until what year was oppressive child labor legal in the United States?

The year 1938 marks a significant turning point in the legal treatment of child labor in the United States due to the implementation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This landmark law established minimum wage and maximum hour standards and explicitly prohibited oppressive child labor across many industries. Prior to this legislation, various forms of child labor were widespread, often involving children working in hazardous and unhealthy conditions for long hours without adequate pay.

The introduction of the FLSA was a response to growing public concern about the exploitation of children in the workforce and was a crucial factor in improving working conditions and protections for young laborers. This act set important precedents for labor rights and contributed to the broader labor movement that sought to safeguard the rights of all workers, including the most vulnerable populations like children.