Question

Which of the following best explains the condition of the average American worker during the 1920 s?
A) Recent legislation provided safer working conditions and a federally mandated minimum wage law.
B) Steadily climbing wages through the decade enabled most workers to easily afford both a home and an automobile.
C) The post-war recession linger through the decades, negatively affecting a worker's standard of living.
D) The Federal government's favourable view of organized labour provided a higher standard of living than experienced in previous decades.
E) Despite a higher standard of living, wages rose very slowly during the decade.

Answer 1

Hint: The American census of 1920 indicates a significant increase in urban and suburban areas, as well as in the middle class. The nature of work and the everyday lives of workers were changing as a result of America's urbanisation, as well as new management styles and new technology in both the home and the workplace. The decline of the ancient industries was due to two factors. For starters, they were plagued by overproduction and underconsumption.

Complete answer:
Many labourers in the early 1900s laboured outside in all seasons, exposed to rain and snow, high heat and extreme cold. Another issue was long work hours and six-day weeks. Monday through Saturday, many people worked from daybreak to sundown. Traditional industries have deteriorated, and many individuals have been laid off. Those workers who were able to keep their jobs were paid extremely little.

Workplace injuries and deaths were prevalent in the 1920s, and working conditions in many cases were deplorable. Government restrictions were almost non-existent, workers' compensation was primarily voluntary, and labour unions had yet to establish themselves as a powerful force. The working environment was deplorable. Because of the long hours and unclean circumstances, many workers became ill or died. Workers were organised and went on strike, and the government passed legislation to address dangerous and cruel working conditions.

Thus, the correct answer is A). That is, the condition which explains the condition of the average American worker during the 1920s is: recent legislation provided safer working conditions and a federally mandated minimum wage law.

Note: Despite the fact that urbanisation was spreading like wildfire and cities were springing up all over the place in the early 1900s, rural farming remained an important working-class vocation. Farmers provided the food and agricultural resources that helped to sustain life as factories and industries flourished. The working class was frequently split by socioeconomic position, with the wealthiest accounting for only a small portion of the entire labour force. In factories, shipyards, and rural towns, the majority of the working class struggled to make a fair livelihood.