Question

question 6 of 10

which statement best describes the effect of mass production on american workers during the 1920s?

a. fewer workers were needed to work in the factories because machinery was doing the work.
b. there was little to no effect of mass production on american workers.
c. more workers were needed to work in the factories to create the products.
d. more skilled workers were needed to work in factories on the new machinery.

Explanation:

Analyze the impact of mass production on labor

Using the Mass Production and Assembly Line knowledge points

• Mass production techniques, such as Henry Ford's moving assembly line, revolutionized manufacturing in the 1920s.
• These methods broke complex tasks down into simple, repetitive steps that could be performed quickly by unskilled or semi-skilled workers.
• Consequently, the demand for highly skilled traditional craftsmen in factories decreased, as machines and simplified processes took over the specialized tasks.

Evaluate the given options

Using the 1920s Automobile Industry knowledge point

• Option A: Incorrect. The massive expansion of consumer demand and factory output actually increased the overall industrial workforce during the 1920s.
• Option B: Incorrect. Mass production profoundly transformed the nature of work, wages, and daily life for millions of American workers.
• Option C: Correct. The dramatic rise in consumer demand for affordable goods (like cars and appliances) led to factory expansion, requiring a larger volume of workers to operate the assembly lines.
• Option D: Incorrect. The assembly line deskilled labor, meaning fewer highly skilled workers were needed because tasks were simplified.

Answer:

• A. Fewer workers were needed to work in the factories because machinery was doing the work.
• B. There was little to no effect of mass production on American workers.
• C. More workers were needed to work in the factories to create the products. (Correct answer)
• D. More skilled workers were needed to work in factories on the new machinery.