Question

PART A: Which of the following best describes Terrance Powderly’s main argument for converting to an eight-hour work day? A. Reducing hours will overall improve the physical lives of the laborers, allowing them more rest and leisure. B. Reducing hours will allow people to educate themselves on economy and business so that they may improve labor inequities and depressions. C. Reducing hours will guarantee jobs for the unemployed, especially increasing waves of immigrants. D. Reducing hours will make the laborer more productive because he or she will be forced to get just as much done but in less time.

Answer 1

The correct answer is B. Reducing hours will allow people to educate themselves on economy and business so that they may improve labour inequities and depressions.

In "The Plea for Eight Hours" (1890), Powderly makes an argument in favour of the eight-hour workday. The main argument can be found near the end of the text. He argues that if manufacturers and men worked eight hours, they would have time to study the finance and how to solve the problems that apparently force them to work long hours to make profits. With better understanding of business and economy, they would be able to work less hours but with the same profitability.