These benefits were developed over a period of years, but may of them can be traced to the incredible legacy of Franklin Roosevelt's administration. American workers had been agitating for shorter work weeks almost since the time of the American Revolution. Several American industries had standardized on the 8-hour day and 40-hour week by the beginning of the 20th century, but it was not until the 1937 Fair Labor Standards Act that all American workers were granted the protections of a standard work week.