Unit 2 Short Answer Questions

1. The Enclosure Movement gave rise to the growth of cities. The definition of enclosure is the process of rich landowners taking over land of peasant farmers. Landowners wanted to make bigger fields that could be cultivated more easily for their wool. Therefore farm output rose when enclosure did. Small landowners could not compete with the large landowners and therefore they were forced off their land. So as they left, they looked for jobs and work. They went to cities, where they would become the work force.


2. Mass Society switched power to the middle and lower classes in the 19th century. Most of the wealthy upper class moved out of the cities because it was dirty and unsanitary. By moving out, it left all the middle and lower class to be in charge of the government and be in charge. Not to mention that before the wealthy left, middle and lower class were protesting about unfair wages and working conditions. Business owners tried to ignore all these complaints, but after time the middle and lower classes got their way. The middle and lower classes got their way because they were the ones that would effect the upper class's income depending on their work because the nobles would need the money brought by the industrial rich to support their expensive life styles and the lands they owned.


3. Immigration and the decline of the slave trade gave rise to the Labor Unions. Employers did not want to use the slaves and the slaves were only used if they had to be. Therefore, the employers hired the middle class and lower class workmen, who became the labor force. They protested low wages, long hours, and unsafe conditions. They had strikes to demand better working conditions, or other benefits that they wanted to receive. Pressured by all of this, the employers had to give more rights and benefits to the middle and lower class. Because of this, the workers formed labor unions, which are organizations of workers who have banned together to make common goals in working conditions, wages, and hours.

Obama's Cabinet Positions

1. Secretary of State
I think Obama should pick Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State. She has done extensive travel to foreign countries and is respected by others. She also has had meetings with different country officials, which makes her perfect for this position.

2. Treasury
I believe that Obama should pick Warren Buffett for this position. He has much experience managing money and he is one of the richest, if not the richest man on earth. He is a great investor, businessman, and philanthropist, which makes him just right for the position.

3. Defense
The person I think Obama should pick for Defense is John McCain. When he was younger, he was in the Vietnam War, and he has much experience in this field. Also, he knows many tactics that would help the United States when it comes to war because of all his years and family background in the military.

4. Energy
Sarah Palin would be a good choice for this position because she has many good ideas when it comes to this topic. She wants to get rid of our dependence upon foreign oil and see our country become independent and self-reliant. Also, she believes in finding renewable energy power, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and natural gas.

5. Education
I believe Joel Klein should be chosen for Secretary of Education. He is currently New York City's chancellor and has much experience in the education department. Also, he is on agreement with Obama because he is a big, important role when it comes to charter schools.

Working Conditions During the Industrial Revolution

1. The evidence given before the Sadler Committee helped to establish the Factory Acts or 1833. In the "Benefit of Factory Legislation", it stated that people and kids were working in the dark for at least 13 hour shifts. Also, that the atmosphere in which they were working in, was very bad due to the coal dust. Not to mention that kids were becoming deformed from standing or from sitting too long. In "Physical Deterioration of the Textile Workers", it states that children are developing abnormally because they are not getting enough exercise. Their spine grows irregularly, along with their leg bones growing bent. In addition to this, their growth was stunted because only one set of muscles were used and the others were not being used at all. In "Ashley's Mines Commission Testimony", four people have their testimonies about work in the mines. Part one is about a strapper named Sarah Gooder, who works in the dark for twelve hours and she is only eight years old. Next, is Isabella Reed, who is a coal bearer, and is only twelve years old. Then in part 3 there is Patience. She can't read and write, but she works many long hours. Lastly, there is Ben Miller, who is an undertaker, and along with all the rest of them, works long, hard hours. In the "Sadler Committee Evidence", one person, who started working at eight years old, had to wake up everyday at five in the morning. They were beaten if late to work, did not get breaks, and were working twelve to sixteen hour shifts. Also, the people were expected to work at the fast pace of machines. All these things brought about the Factory Acts of 1833, which were child labor reforms.

2. In my opinion, i think the most influential siting on the working conditions during the Industrial Revolution is the "Ashley's Mines Commission Testimony". I think this is the most influential because the peoples' testimonies in this had to work 12 hours at the least in the dark. For example, Sarah Gooder, was eight and she was working long, hard hours. A man named, Thomas Wilson, who is the owner of three collieries, believes woman shouldn't work in coal mines, and also believes that men should be educated to work effectively. However, woman did work in coal mines, and men were not educated therefore causing more injuries. Also Isabella Reed was only twelve and was working too many hours for that age. Many kids would also get beaten if they showed up late to work. Not to mention that many of them had to walk to work. Patience, another person whose testimony was about their childhood, stated that they did not even get breaks and that she could not even read or write. Lastly, there was Ben Miller, who worked many hours right along side the others, without any breaks. All these things prove that this was the most influential because it showed how hard it truly was to work in these horrible working conditions.

Essay on Population & Wealth of Nations

The 8 main topics covered in Malthus's "Essay on Population" include:

• The population will not grow if there is not enough food to go around.

• Plants and animals only care about providing for their offspring, while man cares only about himself.

• The population will grow at a fast speed due to the basic needs of humans.

• As the population grows, the work force becomes larger as well, and therefore the boss or person in charge has less money to pay to the labourers. Since he has less money to give out, they have to work much harder to earn the same amount of money as before.

• When people die in war, the population then adjusts and repopulates.

• A poor man can not go higher in society without putting a stress on that higher class.

• The rich gain favor for themselves by making the wages higher in a year with little profit, but when the market gets a high profit year... they make excuses to take the majority of the money.

• Agriculture has a limit due to land space being taken up, while population has no limit. Therefore, as the population keeps growing and doubling... there will not be enough food to feed everyone.

The 9 main topics covered in Smith's "Wealth of Nations" include:

• Rotate different crops during each season so more is produced instead of just growing one crop all year round. This is called crop rotation.

• More is produced when the work is done in one work place because more effort is put into the work consistently.

• Machine and tools have helped improved productivity also.

• A free market economy is the best thing for society.

• Meritocracy is a more beneficial way to run a society because it means that leadership is based on talent instead of social standings or wealth.

• A "system of perfect liberty" was used in his work to describe what we call today, capitalism. Capitalism is the idea of a market economy where supply and demand is used. Supply and demand is having the price of the items equal the amount wanted by the consumers. Production and distribution was maintained by private individuals or corporations.

• The amount of supply made yearly is based on two things. First it is based on the skill of the labourers. Secondly, the number of labourers who are employed good workers must be in balance with those who are not employed.

• There is a limit to division of labour. The limit is based on the extent of the market. This means that if the market grows to a certain limit, the division of labour will grow to be in proportion with it.

• If one wants to not be wasteful in a time of peace, then when war breaks out... they become in debt. The only money they have for war is the same as they had when they were in "peace". So then the government has to borrow money from other countries and soon that country becomes dependent on other countries.