Progressive Movement Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive Test Prep

The National Labor Relations Act, commonly known as the Wagner Act, was primarily designed to protect the rights of workers to organize and bargain collectively. Enacted in 1935 during the Great Depression, the Act aimed to address the power imbalance between employers and employees, which had been exacerbated by economic hardship. It established important provisions that guaranteed workers the right to form unions and engage in collective bargaining without interference from employers.

This legislation also created the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), an agency responsible for overseeing and enforcing the rights related to labor organization. By empowering workers to negotiate with employers for better wages, working conditions, and other rights, the Wagner Act played a crucial role in enhancing labor relations in the United States and contributed to the growth of union membership.

The other options, while related to labor and economic issues, do not embody the central purpose of the Wagner Act. The focus on regulating trade practices, providing unemployment benefits, and establishing a national minimum wage pertains to different areas of labor policy and government intervention that are not the primary goals of this specific piece of legislation.