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.