Question

question 5

which of the following statements about the putting-out system is true?

• the putting-out system was burdensome on workers, who had to go through apprenticeships to become journeymen.
• the putting-out system was proposed as an alternative to slave labor and indentured servitude.
• the putting-out system was instituted by the federal government to gain economic dominance abroad.
• the putting-out system allowed merchants to rely on unskilled labor, which cut production costs.

Explanation:

Define the putting-out system

The putting-out system, also known as the cottage industry or domestic system, was a pre-industrial production system. In this system, merchant-capitalists "put out" raw materials (such as wool or cotton) to rural families, who spun or wove them into finished goods in their own homes.

Analyze the labor dynamics

Unlike traditional artisan guilds, which required rigorous, multi-year apprenticeships to progress from apprentice to journeyman and master, the putting-out system bypassed these restrictions. It allowed merchants to employ unskilled or semi-skilled rural laborers (often women and children) who worked part-time during agricultural off-seasons.

Evaluate the economic impact

By utilizing rural, unorganized, and unskilled labor, merchants avoided the high wages and strict production regulations enforced by urban artisan guilds. This significantly reduced labor and production costs, allowing merchants to increase their profit margins and scale production.

Assess the given options

• Option 1: Incorrect. The apprenticeship-to-journeyman path was characteristic of the traditional artisan guild system, which the putting-out system actively undermined.
• Option 2: Incorrect. The system was developed as a method of manufacturing goods (primarily textiles) in Europe and early America, not as a direct policy alternative to slave labor or indentured servitude.
• Option 3: Incorrect. The system was driven by private merchant-capitalists seeking profit, not instituted or managed by the federal government.
• Option 4: Correct. The system allowed merchants to bypass guilds by employing unskilled rural labor, which lowered production costs.

Answer:

• (A) The putting-out system was burdensome on workers, who had to go through apprenticeships to become journeymen.
• (B) The putting-out system was proposed as an alternative to slave labor and indentured servitude.
• (C) The putting-out system was instituted by the federal government to gain economic dominance abroad.
• (D) The putting-out system allowed merchants to rely on unskilled labor, which cut production costs. (Correct answer)