Identify and state the historical significance of the following:
-Adkins v.Children's Hospital

Question

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The Answer is Adkins v. Children's Hospital is a significant case in United States legal history, decided by the Supreme Court in 1923. The case citation is Adkins v. Children's Hospital, 261 U.S. 525 (1923).

**Historical Background:**
The case involved a challenge to the minimum wage law of the District of Columbia. In 1918, Congress had enacted a law that established a board to set minimum wages for women and children in the District of Columbia. The purpose of the law was to protect women and children from exploitation by employers who might otherwise pay them unfairly low wages.

**The Case:**
The Children's Hospital of Washington, D.C., and a prospective employee, Willie Lyons Adkins, brought the case against the wage board, arguing that the minimum wage law was unconstitutional. They contended that the law violated the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment, which prohibits the federal government from depriving individuals of "life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."

**Supreme Court Decision:**
The Supreme Court, in a 5-3 decision, ruled in favor of Adkins and the Children's Hospital. The majority opinion, written by Justice George Sutherland, held that the minimum wage law for women was an unconstitutional infringement on the liberty of contract, which was implicit in the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment. The Court argued that adults should have the freedom to negotiate the terms of their employment, including wages, without government interference.

**Historical Significance:**
The Adkins decision was significant for several reasons:

1. **Liberty of Contract:** The ruling reinforced the concept of "liberty of contract," which was a principle that the Court had used in earlier decisions, such as Lochner v. New York (1905), to strike down labor regulations. It reflected the era's laissez-faire economic philosophy, which favored minimal government intervention in the economy.

2. **Gender and Labor Laws:** The case highlighted the gendered nature of labor laws at the time. The minimum wage law specifically targeted women and children, reflecting societal views about their role in the workforce and the need for special protections.

3. **Shift in Legal Philosophy:** The decision was part of the "Lochner era," a period during which the Supreme Court frequently invalidated progressive economic regulations. However, this era came to an end in the 1930s when the Court's approach shifted during the New Deal era, leading to greater acceptance of government intervention in the economy.

4. **Reversal of Precedent:** The principles established in Adkins were later overturned by the Supreme Court in West Coast Hotel Co. v. Parrish (1937), which upheld a state minimum wage law for women. This marked a significant departure from the Court's earlier stance on liberty of contract and paved the way for modern labor regulations.

The Adkins case is a landmark in American legal history because it encapsulates the tension between individual rights and government regulation of the economy, a debate that continues to be relevant in discussions about labor laws and economic policy.

Identify and State the Historical Significance of the Following