Question

Attempts by Congress to regulate child labor and factory conditions in local workplaces were struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional in the late nineteenth century because regulating local workplaces was_____________.

Answer 1

Answer:

beyond the scope of understanding of interstate commerce at the time.

Explanation:

The Interstate Commerce Act which was instituted in 1887 had very limited powers at that time. When it was first introduced, there were various protests against the Act as it tried to regulate the railroad rates.

The people and the business associations felt that Congress had no right to legislate economic policies among the states. At this point of time, attempts by Congress to regulate child labor and factory conditions in local workplaces were also struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional.Commerce Clause could be applied only on a limited basis by Congress.

Thus, making it ineffective as the scope of the act was very little at that time.