{"id":351609,"date":"2016-04-04T11:02:26","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:02:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/child-abuse\/child-abuse-background-and-history.html"},"modified":"2023-05-25T12:19:14","modified_gmt":"2023-05-25T17:19:14","slug":"child-abuse-background-and-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-abuse\/child-abuse-background-and-history.html","title":{"rendered":"Child Abuse Background and History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Child Abuse Background and History<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Lyle Therese A. Hilotin-Lee, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Rhonda Earhart, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

\n

Child abuse can cause severe mental and physical harm or even death. Yet, social attitudes and laws didn’t always recognize this problem. Awareness of these tragedies grew over the 19th and 20th centuries. It inspired new child welfare and prevention programs across the United States.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

Child abuse and neglect is any form of cruelty inflicted on a child. Historically, we only started to recognize child abuse in the late 19th century. Child abuse is typically committed by a parent<\/a>, a caretaker, or another person meant to provide child care.  <\/p>\r\n

This cruelty comes in various forms<\/a>, such as the following:<\/p>\r\n