Final answer:
The claim that the sit-down strike was approved by the Supreme Court is false, although the sit-down strike did contribute to union membership growth. Union membership increased due to the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, and this momentum continued with government support during WWII.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement you've asked about is b. false. The sit-down strike certainly helped the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) to gain union membership in the 1930s.
Notably, the United Auto Workers held a sit-down strike at General Motors, forcing GM to negotiate, which led to a contract providing higher pay and benefits for employees of US Steel. However, this type of strike action itself was not directly approved by the Supreme Court.
The substantial rise in union membership in the 1930s was a consequence of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, which legally protected workers' rights to organize and required management to engage in fair practices regarding unionization.
The government's subsequent encouragement of unions during World War II further bolstered this. Post World War II, the climate became less favorable with the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, which allowed workers to opt out of unions and signaled the beginning of a decline in union strength.
Despite setbacks, unions remained influential, with collective bargaining and striking as key tools. The labor movement had established a strong foundation for worker rights by the time of the Great Depression through progressive reforms and governmental interventions that often favored workers' demands.