A historical, courtroom-style argument from 1895 in Massachusetts.
This book presents Charles Coolidge Read’s testimony before a legislative committee, calling for a prohibition on insuring children under ten. It places the debate in a broader moment of reform and public concern for vulnerable families.
The material frames the stakes of child life insurance with vivid examples, moral appeals, and a chorus of public voices. It combines persuasive rhetoric with references to the money, policies, and animals of a bustling era, all aimed at shaping law and public opinion.
- Learn the key concerns and arguments used to oppose child insurance in the late 19th century.
- See how lawmakers, clergy, and citizens framed protection for children as a public duty.
- Encounter quotes, anecdotes, and figures used to scrutinize insurance practices.
- Understand the historical context of reform efforts in Massachusetts and beyond.
Ideal for readers of historical policy debates, 19th-century reform movements, and legal histories that explore how public opinion shapes legislation.