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Difficulty: HardSocialist, Communist, and Reformist Reactions to Industrialization

“The general diffusion of manufactures throughout a country generates a new character in its inhabitants; and as this character is formed upon a principle quite unfavorable to individual or general happiness, it will produce the most lamentable and permanent evils, unless its tendency be counteracted by legislative interference and direction. The manufacturing system has already so far extended its influence over the British Empire as to effect an essential change in the general character of the mass of the people.”

—Robert Owen, British factory owner and social reformer, *Observations on the Effect of the Manufacturing System*, 1815

Which of the following nineteenth-century developments best represents a continuation of the policy advocated by the author in the passage?

  1. The passage of factory acts and the legalization of labor unions to improve working conditions and regulate employmentAnswer
  2. B
    The revolutionary overthrow of capitalist governments to establish a classless society where the state owns all means of production
  3. C
    The adoption of mercantilist economic policies to accumulate bullion and maintain positive trade balances through colonial monopolies
  4. D
    The prioritization of chemical, steel, and electrical production over consumer goods to accelerate national industrial growth

Answer

The passage of factory acts and the legalization of labor unions to improve working conditions and regulate employment
The correct answer is correct because the author explicitly calls for 'legislative interference and direction' to mitigate the negative social effects of the manufacturing system. The passage of factory acts and the legalization of labor unions in the nineteenth century are prime historical examples of such state-directed reforms and social responses aimed at improving the welfare of industrial workers.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus to determine the author's perspective on industrialization.
The author argues that the spread of manufacturing damages the character and happiness of the population, and he asserts that these evils must be counteracted by 'legislative interference and direction.'
This establishes that the author favors state regulation and reform over laissez-faire capitalism or total revolution.
2
Evaluate the answer choices to identify which one aligns with the author's call for legislative interference.
The passage of factory acts and the legalization of labor unions represent state and societal reforms aimed at regulating industrial labor conditions.
These measures represent the moderate reformist responses that directly address the social consequences of industrialization through legislative means.
3
Eliminate the distractors based on historical context and the author's stance.
Revolutionary overthrow represents Marxism, which is too radical for the author's reformist stance. Mercantilist policies are pre-industrial and focus on trade rather than labor conditions. The focus on steel and chemicals represents a later technological phase of industrialization rather than a policy response to its social consequences.
This confirms that only the choice concerning factory acts and labor unions continues the author's reformist policy.

Key Concept

Socialist, Communist, and Reformist Reactions to Industrialization
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Socialist, Communist, and Reformist Reactions to Industrialization

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