Lochner Era

Definition

The Lochner Era refers to a period in U.S. legal history, from the late 19th century to the early 20th century, characterized by the Supreme Court's tendency to strike down legislation that regulated labor conditions and economic affairs under the principle of substantive due process. This era is closely tied to the Court's commitment to protecting individual economic liberties, often at the expense of state intervention aimed at promoting social welfare and labor rights.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The term 'Lochner Era' is named after the 1905 Supreme Court case Lochner v. New York, where the Court struck down a state law limiting bakers' working hours as an infringement on economic liberty.
2. During this period, the Supreme Court frequently invoked substantive due process to invalidate various laws aimed at regulating working conditions, wages, and hours.
3. The Lochner Era is often seen as reflecting a laissez-faire approach to economics, favoring minimal government intervention in business affairs.
4. Critics argue that the Lochner Era prioritized property rights over social justice, leading to widespread exploitation of workers and poor labor conditions.
5. The Lochner Era effectively ended in the 1930s as the Supreme Court began to uphold more government regulations related to labor and economic policy during the New Deal.

Review Questions

• How did the Lochner Era influence the relationship between individual liberties and government regulation in the early 20th century?
  • The Lochner Era significantly shaped the relationship between individual liberties and government regulation by prioritizing economic freedoms over state intervention. The Supreme Court’s decisions during this period often favored individual property rights, resulting in the invalidation of many laws aimed at improving labor conditions. This created a legal environment where economic interests were largely unchecked by government efforts to promote public welfare or protect workers' rights.
• In what ways did cases like Muller v. Oregon challenge the prevailing principles of the Lochner Era?
  • Muller v. Oregon challenged the principles of the Lochner Era by introducing a new perspective on women's labor rights and state regulation. Unlike typical cases during this period that favored economic liberty, this case upheld a law limiting women's working hours based on sociological evidence about women's health and societal roles. It marked a shift towards recognizing certain regulatory measures as legitimate, indicating that state interests could sometimes outweigh individual economic freedoms.
• Evaluate how the end of the Lochner Era reflected broader changes in American society and legal thought regarding labor rights and government intervention.
  • The end of the Lochner Era mirrored significant changes in American society and legal thought as it transitioned towards greater recognition of labor rights and government intervention in economic matters. The rise of the New Deal in response to the Great Depression led to a re-evaluation of previous legal doctrines that favored minimal regulation. As public sentiment shifted towards supporting labor protections and social justice, the Supreme Court began upholding more state regulations designed to safeguard workers' rights, reflecting an evolving understanding of the balance between individual liberties and collective welfare.

Related terms

Substantive Due Process:

A constitutional doctrine that protects certain fundamental rights from government interference, asserting that the government must not infringe on these rights without a compelling reason.

Police Power: The inherent authority of states to enact laws and regulations to promote health, safety, morals, and general welfare within their jurisdiction.

Muller v. Oregon: A landmark Supreme Court case in 1908 that upheld a state law limiting women's working hours, marking a significant challenge to the principles established during the Lochner Era.