Legislative changes in South Carolina took a progressive step with the raising of the minimum working age for youth employed in hazardous industries like factories, mills, and mines. The law specifically modified the previous allowance, which permitted children as young as 12 to work in potentially dangerous environments. Advocates for the new legislation argued that the health and education of children were at stake, as many were forced to sacrifice their schooling to contribute to family income. This led to increasing social awareness regarding child labor practices and the physical and psychological effects they had on children. Legislative debates included discussions on the balance between economic necessity for families and the intrinsic rights of children to a safe upbringing and education.

The state of South Carolina was not alone in this reform; many other states were concurrently assessing the impacts of child labor laws. Various labor organizations, parent-teacher associations, and social reformers played crucial roles in advocating for a higher minimum age. The push for change was often accompanied by alarming statistics about the number of child injuries and fatalities within industries that proved hazardous. Although rising the working age to 14 did not eradicate the exploitation of child labor, it represented a critical shift towards recognizing the importance of age-appropriate labor policies and the necessity for better working conditions.

Ultimately, this legislation was a reflection of a broader trend throughout the United States in the early 20th century that sought to protect vulnerable populations, particularly children, by imposing regulations in the workplace. As similar laws rolled out over the following years, they laid the groundwork for a gradual evolution in labor rights and protections that would have lasting ramifications beyond the state lines of South Carolina.