In the late 1800s and early 1900s, factory owners hired children in spite of the laws against this practice. because they could pay them less money. because they did not want to hire women. in the interest of keeping families together.

This question is asking for the reason why factory owners hired children in the late 1800s and early 1900s, despite laws against this practice. The options provided are: because they could pay them less money, because they did not want to hire women, in the interest of keeping families together, and because they could pay them less money. The correct answer is because they could pay them less money. During this time period, child labor was common and children were often hired because they could be paid less than adults. This was not because they did not want to hire women or in the interest of keeping families together. The laws against child labor were often ignored or not enforced, so the reason for hiring children was primarily economic.