In 1924, the U.S. House and Senate passed and sent onto the states for possible ratification the *proposed* Child Labor Amendment:
But then things moved at a snail's pace with only two more states until a flurry of activity in 1933. And then by 1937, 28 states had ratified this proposed amendment. Which is credible, which is a majority of the then 48 states. Although short of the needed three fourths.
And with the flurry of activity happening during the Great Depression, maybe there was some political currency to the argument, child labor = unemployment for adults.
Apparently, a number of states first rejected this proposed Child Labor Amendment and later ratified it during the 1930s:
And rejection by 26 states within the first couple of years, yeah, that would be enough to take the steam out of just about anything.
(I can read part of a court decision and get some benefit out of it. Just like I can read part of a New England Journal of Medicine article and get some benefit out of it. And so can you!)
If only four more states had ratified it.
If only...