Progressive Era Affected Work Conditions

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In 1900 18% of all American workers were under the age of 16. How did the progressive era affect working conditions? Working conditions were horrible before the progressive era. The progressive era affected working conditions with the help of many people and were able changed workers life for the better. Working conditions were horrible before the progressive era, child labor was also at an all time high, 4/10 kids were working. Child labor was very popular because children could work in small spaces and could also work for little pay. In the 1800s when many people were immigrating to America, it was great for the employers because they could work these children horribly and with terrible pay because they needed jobs. They were a big part of the agriculture economy and worked in factories. It helped the Agricultural economy especially in the cotton mills, 25% of their workers were kids 12.5% of them were under the age of 12.Factories percentage of children under 15 workers boosted from 10%- 15% but other jobs they had were selling newspapers and flowers, shoe shiners and delivered messages.
With many Children and Adults working their job experience was awful. They had to work in dirty conditions that were very dangerous, They had long hours and with the invention of light
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One of the many committees was National Consumers league led by florence kelley helped stop child labor. Other people led by her example including Mother Jones who also helped working conditions and stop child labor. These committees helped child labor laws get passed, and they spread the word to people about how bad child labor was, they worked in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Beside Child Labor committees campaigns were also very helpful in improving conditions. There first successful state campaign was New york where they created restrictions in 1903. They led a national campaign which banned child labor in