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Difficulty: EasyCauses and Environmental Preconditions of the Industrial Revolution

Source: Adapted from Arthur Young, British writer on agriculture, *A Six Months Tour Through the North of England*, 1771.

"The great husbandry improvements of this district have been the introduction of turnips and clover, and the enclosure of the common fields. By these means, the land now supports twice the number of livestock and yields double the quantity of grain. This increased efficiency has not only boosted food supplies but has also reduced the number of hands needed for field labor, forcing many agricultural workers to migrate in search of employment."

The agricultural changes described in the passage most directly contributed to which of the following preconditions of the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain?

  1. An abundant supply of labor moving to cities to work in new factoriesAnswer
  2. B
    The creation of national electrical grids and chemical manufacturing plants
  3. C
    The accumulation of capital through joint-stock companies trading luxury goods along the Silk Roads
  4. D
    The adoption of mercantilist trade restrictions to eliminate private property rights

Answer

An abundant supply of labor moving to cities to work in new factories
The correct answer is correct because the enclosure movement and agricultural improvements (such as crop rotation using turnips and clover) dramatically increased agricultural yields while simultaneously reducing the demand for agricultural laborers. This labor surplus led to mass migration from rural areas to growing industrial towns, providing the essential workforce for the emerging factory system in Great Britain.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source text for key historical processes.
The passage describes the Agricultural Revolution, specifically the enclosure of common lands and technological/crop innovations (turnips, clover) that increased efficiency.
Identifying the subject of the text establishes the historical context.
2
Link the outcome described in the text to preconditions of the Industrial Revolution.
The text states that these changes reduced the need for field labor and forced workers to migrate for employment.
Connecting the source's details to the concept of urbanization and labor supply explains how the Agricultural Revolution served as a direct precursor to industrialization.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one representing this labor shift.
The choice emphasizing an abundant supply of labor migrating to cities is the only one directly supported by the text's description of displaced agricultural workers.
Selecting the option that describes urban factory labor aligns with the historical causation tested.

Key Concept

The Agricultural Revolution and demographic shifts as preconditions for the Industrial Revolution
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Causes and Environmental Preconditions of the Industrial Revolution

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