Historian James Chen argues in his 2022 book that the American labor movement of the 1930s succeeded largely because organizers...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
Historian James Chen argues in his 2022 book that the American labor movement of the 1930s succeeded largely because organizers adapted their tactics to local economic conditions rather than applying uniform national strategies: ______
Which excerpt from Chen's book most effectively illustrates the claim?
"The Congress of Industrial Organizations established standardized organizing protocols that were implemented consistently across all major industrial centers from 1935 to 1940."
"In Detroit's auto plants, organizers emphasized production slowdowns and factory-floor negotiations, while in West Virginia's coal mines, they focused on safety violations and community-wide strikes, demonstrating strategic flexibility."
"Labor leaders like John L. Lewis and Walter Reuther maintained regular correspondence to coordinate messaging and ensure unified approaches to corporate negotiations."
"Federal legislation such as the Wagner Act provided the legal framework that enabled consistent organizing strategies throughout American industrial sectors."
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "Historian James Chen argues in his 2022 book that the American labor movement of the 1930s succeeded largely because organizers adapted their tactics to local economic conditions" |
|
| "rather than applying uniform national strategies:" |
|
Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: James Chen argues that 1930s labor movement success came from locally adapted tactics rather than standardized national approaches.
Argument Flow: Chen presents a specific interpretation of labor movement success, emphasizing the importance of tactical flexibility based on local conditions rather than one-size-fits-all strategies.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct choice needs to show labor organizers using different tactics in different places based on local conditions
- We should see concrete examples of how strategies varied by location or industry, demonstrating the "adapted their tactics to local economic conditions" part of Chen's argument
- The answer should contrast sharply with uniform, standardized approaches
"The Congress of Industrial Organizations established standardized organizing protocols that were implemented consistently across all major industrial centers from 1935 to 1940."
✗ Incorrect
- Describes "standardized organizing protocols" implemented "consistently across all major industrial centers"
- This directly contradicts Chen's argument by emphasizing uniformity rather than local adaptation
"In Detroit's auto plants, organizers emphasized production slowdowns and factory-floor negotiations, while in West Virginia's coal mines, they focused on safety violations and community-wide strikes, demonstrating strategic flexibility."
✓ Correct
- Shows specific different tactics: Detroit auto plants used "production slowdowns and factory-floor negotiations" while West Virginia coal mines focused on "safety violations and community-wide strikes"
- Perfect match for Chen's argument about adapting tactics to local economic conditions
"Labor leaders like John L. Lewis and Walter Reuther maintained regular correspondence to coordinate messaging and ensure unified approaches to corporate negotiations."
✗ Incorrect
- Describes leaders coordinating "to ensure unified approaches to corporate negotiations"
- Emphasizes coordination for uniformity, which opposes Chen's argument about local adaptation
"Federal legislation such as the Wagner Act provided the legal framework that enabled consistent organizing strategies throughout American industrial sectors."
✗ Incorrect
- Focuses on federal legislation enabling "consistent organizing strategies throughout American industrial sectors"
- Emphasizes consistency and uniformity across sectors rather than local adaptation