What trend in the nineteenth century altered the view of children in legal matters?

In the nineteenth century, there was a significant shift in the treatment of children in the legal system that involved viewing them more like adults in terms of accountability for their actions. This shift meant that children could be charged and convicted similarly to adults, which was a departure from previous views that often saw them as more innocent and less responsible for their behavior.

The legal processes began to reflect a belief in moral agency, arguing that children could understand the consequences of their actions and therefore could be held accountable in a manner akin to adults. This resulted in a more punitive approach to juvenile delinquency and indicated a societal move toward treating juvenile offenders with the same seriousness as adult offenders, signifying a major change in the legal framework surrounding children during that time period.

The other options present alternative views regarding the treatment of children in legal matters; however, they do not accurately capture the prevailing trend of the time. For instance, children were not entirely exempt from legal proceedings nor were they universally free from punishment. Legal representation for children began to be discussed but was not a widespread practice until later. Thus, the trend of charging and convicting children like adults reflects a fundamental change in societal perceptions of childhood and responsibility during the nineteenth century.