A Level History - America - Practice Exam

The Wages and Hours Act of 1938 was significant in that it:

1. Eliminated all forms of labor unions

2. Established protections against child labor and dangerous work

3. Created new job opportunities for teenagers

4. Increased the retirement age for workers

The correct answer is: Established protections against child labor and dangerous work

The Wages and Hours Act of 1938, also known as the Fair Labor Standards Act, was indeed significant for establishing protections against child labor and dangerous work. This legislation aimed to set a minimum wage, limit working hours, and prohibit oppressive child labor, recognizing the need to protect young workers from exploitation and hazardous conditions. By laying down these standards, the Act contributed to improving the overall working conditions in America, aimed at promoting economic recovery during the Great Depression, and ultimately helped to shape labor rights. The other choices do not accurately reflect the primary impact of the Act. It did not eliminate labor unions; in fact, labor unions gained strength during this period as workers sought better conditions. The Act did not create new job opportunities specifically for teenagers; its focus was on regulating work conditions rather than job creation. Additionally, the Act did not address retirement age issues, which are governed by different regulations and were not a primary concern of the legislation at that time. Thus, the emphasis of the Wages and Hours Act on child labor and workplace safety is what makes it a pivotal piece of labor legislation.