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In nineteenth century, American slaves were freed and animals were protected against cruelty while children were still considered their parents' chattel, to do with as they wished. Not until 1874 was the first court case of child abuse argued. The American Society brought the case, on behalf of a young girl named Mary Ellen for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The ASPCA successfully challenged the court to recognize that Mary Ellen was covered under laws …

…across all areas of our lives, touching families, and local communities, health care providers, and the criminal justice system, welfare programs, and educational institutions. They are so pervasive that the U.S.Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect has called the problem of child maltreatment in the United States "an epidemic". An quoted from the past president Ronald Reagon "there is no more fundamental test of a society than how to treat its children".