Question

What was true of railroad workers during a specific historical context?

A) Most railroad workers were paid high wages.
B) Most railroad workers were limited to an eight-hour workday.
C) Railroad workers endured harsh conditions and frequent accidents.
D) Immigrant railroad workers earned as much money as other workers.

Answer 1

During the Second Industrial Revolution, railroad workers faced hazardous conditions, including numerous accidents and injuries, while being subjected to low wages and long working hours. Option C, stating that railroad workers endured harsh conditions and frequent accidents, accurately depicts their situation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The railroad workers of the historical period in question, primarily during the Second Industrial Revolution and the expansion of the American West, faced harsh conditions and frequent accidents on the job. They worked in an environment that lacked safety standards and legal protections, resulting in a high incidence of injuries. Moreover, their pay was not as high as that of other skilled workers and immigrants typically earned less than native-born workers.

Despite their challenging conditions, railroad workers were crucial to the nation's development, contributing significantly to the expansion of the Western United States. They were part of a broader landscape of industrial labor where long hours, dangerous working environments, and low wages were common. The push for labor reforms, such as the eight-hour workday, was a response to these issues, though many workers never saw such benefits during this era. Given these conditions, option C) 'Railroad workers endured harsh conditions and frequent accidents' reflects the reality of railroad workers during that historical period.