Question 46

The wave of strikes and walkouts by workers in 1934 contributed most directly to the passage of the National Labor Relations Act.

The labor strikes and walkouts in 1934 highlighted the urgent need for labor reform, leading directly to the passage of the National Labor Relations Act in 1935, which protected workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively.

A) The first election of President Franklin D. Roosevelt

While the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 set the stage for labor reforms, it was the events of 1934 that specifically catalyzed the need for legislation like the National Labor Relations Act. Therefore, this option is not directly linked to the strikes.

B) The passage of the National Labor Relations Act

This option is correct as the wave of strikes in 1934 underscored the need for legal protections for workers, leading to the National Labor Relations Act. This law was pivotal in establishing the rights of workers to unionize and engage in collective bargaining, directly addressing the issues that arose from the strikes.

C) An attempt to increase the number of justices on the Supreme Court

The attempt to increase the number of justices on the Supreme Court, known as the court-packing plan, was unrelated to the labor strikes of 1934. This initiative was primarily motivated by Roosevelt's frustrations with the Supreme Court's decisions on New Deal legislation, not labor rights.

D) A program to pay farmers to grow more crops to feed the unemployed

This option refers to agricultural policies aimed at alleviating economic distress but does not connect directly to the labor strikes. The strikes were focused on workers' rights in industrial settings rather than agricultural subsidies or programs.

E) The merger of the country's two largest unions, the AFL and the CIO

While the strikes contributed to the labor movement's momentum, the merger between the AFL and CIO occurred later and was influenced by various factors beyond the 1934 strikes. The strikes were part of a broader labor context but did not directly cause the merger.

Conclusion

The National Labor Relations Act was a direct outcome of the labor unrest experienced in 1934, which illustrated the necessity for legal protections for workers. All other options fail to capture this direct relationship, as they pertain to different aspects of labor and political developments during that era. Thus, the passage of the National Labor Relations Act stands out as the most relevant consequence of the strikes.