What did the Keating-Owen Child Labor Act aim to achieve?

The Keating-Owen Child Labor Act aimed to prohibit child labor in manufacturing goods for interstate commerce. This legislation was pivotal in the Progressive Movement, as it represented a significant effort to address the exploitation of child laborers during a period when many children were employed in hazardous working conditions, often for long hours and minimal pay. The Act sought to eliminate the use of child labor in industries that shipped goods across state lines, effectively attempting to curtail the economic incentives that allowed companies to employ children. By targeting interstate commerce, the Act leveraged federal authority to limit child labor practices, which were predominantly regulated at the state level, falling under the broader umbrella of social reforms aimed at improving labor standards and protecting vulnerable populations.