[T]hey wanted . . . a fifty-two-hour week with extra pay for overtime, an end to the fines and petty tyrannies, and a living wage.

Question

—We Shall Not Be Moved,
Joan Dash

Which historical detail helps clarify your understanding of the sentence?

Different ethnic groups all worked together on the strike.
There were 80-hour workweeks, low pay, and fines for long bathroom breaks.
More than 20,000 workers went on strike.
Many of the workers were immigrants from Eastern Europe and Italy.

Answer 1

The historical detail that helps clarify the understanding of the sentence is: There were 80-hour workweeks, low pay, and fines for long bathroom breaks.

This detail provides context about the harsh working conditions that led to the demands for a fifty-two-hour workweek, extra pay for overtime, an end to fines, and a living wage. It illustrates the extent of exploitation that the workers faced, making their demands clear and justified.