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Difficulty: MediumMarket Revolution: Social and Demographic Changes

“The laboring classes of this country are rapidly sinking in the scale of society... whilst the wealth of the nation is rapidly accumulating in the hands of a few. The hours of labor have been increased, while the compensation has been diminished... We are therefore convinced that the only way to avert the impending ruin of our class is by a general union of all the workingmen of the country.”
— Constitution of the New England Association of Farmers, Mechanics, and Other Workingmen, 1832

Which of the following developments in the first half of the nineteenth century most directly contributed to the grievances expressed in the excerpt?

  1. The transition from independent artisan production to wage labor in factoriesAnswer
  2. B
    The decline of Southern agricultural production due to international competition
  3. C
    The migration of large numbers of working-class families from northern cities to southern plantations
  4. D
    The establishment of federal laws prohibiting workers from organizing trade unions

Answer

The transition from independent artisan production to wage labor in factories
The correct answer is correct because the Market Revolution fundamentally reorganized the American workplace. The traditional apprentice-to-master artisan pathway was largely replaced by factory systems and mass production. In these new industrial settings, workers lost control over their working conditions, saw their specialized skills devalued, and had to work longer, strictly regulated hours for hourly wages, which sparked the growth of the early labor movement and workingmen's associations.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the historical context and the grievances expressed in the primary source document from 1832.
The document highlights working-class complaints about sinking social status, rising wealth inequality, longer hours, and decreased compensation, calling for unionization.
Understanding the source's perspective on labor and wealth distribution is necessary to link it to broader historical trends.
2
Link these grievances to the economic shifts of the Market Revolution occurring between 1800 and 1848.
The shift from the domestic system and custom artisan shops to factory-based mass production replaced self-employed craftspeople with wage laborers who had little control over their hours or working conditions.
Identifying the root cause of the changing nature of labor in the Northeast helps determine the correct historical development.
3
Evaluate the options to identify which development best matches the shift described in the source.
The transition to factory wage labor directly explains the loss of independence and worsening labor conditions mentioned by the workingmen's association.
This confirms that the transition to factory wage labor is the correct response while ruling out incorrect statements regarding Southern agricultural decline, migration patterns, and federal labor laws.

Key Concept

Impact of the Market Revolution on labor systems and class structure
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Market Revolution: Social and Demographic Changes

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