Question

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives

of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That... eight hours shall, in contracts for labor and
service, be deemed a day's work and the measure or
standard of a day's work for the purpose of reckoning the
compensation for services of all employees who are now
or may hereafter be employed by any common carrier by
railroad.
-Adamson Act, 1916
This legislation most clearly served as a federal response to:
A. graft and corruption among political parties.
B. union demands to reform conditions in industry.
C. environmental concerns in overcrowded cities.
D. abuses by corporate monopolies and trusts.

Answer 1

B. union demands to reform conditions in industry.

The Adamson Act of 1916 was passed as a response to the demands of labor unions, particularly the railroad unions, which were threatening to strike for an eight-hour workday. The act established the eight-hour workday as the standard for railroad workers and provided for overtime pay for additional hours worked. Thus, the Act was aimed at improving the conditions of workers in the railroad industry and responding to the demands of labor unions, rather than addressing political corruption, environmental concerns, or corporate monopolies and trusts.