Is it True or False that it was legal to send children through the mail in the USA up until 1920?

Believe it or not, the answer is True. Prior to 1920, it was technically legal to send children through the mail in the United States. This shocking fact may seem unbelievable, but it was actually a practice that occurred during a time when postage rates were cheaper than train tickets and rural families lived far from the nearest town.

This bizarre practice was made possible by the Parcel Post Service, which was introduced in 1913 by the United States Postal Service. The service allowed for the mailing of packages up to 50 pounds, and children were considered to be no different from any other package. In some cases, parents would send their children to visit relatives or attend school in this manner, as it was a cost-effective and convenient means of transportation.

While it may seem incomprehensible by today's standards, the mailing of children was not explicitly prohibited by law until the Child Labor Act of 1920. This legislation was introduced to protect the welfare of children and ensure that they were not subjected to hazardous or harmful conditions, including being sent through the mail.

Although the practice of mailing children is now illegal, it serves as a reminder of the strange and sometimes dark aspects of American history. To learn more about this fascinating topic, you can visit Smithsonian Magazine or History.com.

In conclusion, the idea of sending children through the mail may seem like something out of a dystopian novel, but it was a reality in the United States until 1920. Thankfully, laws have since been put in place to protect the well-being of children and prevent such practices from ever happening again.

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