How did the development of capitalism impact workers?
A. It established workers as controllers of the means of production. B. It began a system of apprenticeship. C. It began a system of wage labor. D. It began a system of profit sharing.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is: C. It began a system of wage labor.
Explanation
The development of capitalism profoundly reshaped social and economic structures, particularly affecting the lives of workers. In a capitalist economy, individuals or private entities control the means of production, such as factories, machinery, and land. This economic shift, especially prominent from the late 18th century onwards with the Industrial Revolution, led to the establishment of a wage labor system that became central to capitalism.
Under the wage labor system, workers do not own the resources or tools needed for production; instead, they sell their labor to those who do—the capitalists, or business owners. In exchange, workers receive wages, which they rely on to meet their basic needs. This system contrasts with earlier economic models, such as feudalism, where peasants often worked land owned by nobles in exchange for protection or subsistence, or artisan-based economies, where skilled craftsmen would own their own tools and sell their finished goods directly.
While the wage labor system created more opportunities for employment, it also led to significant inequalities. Capitalism introduced a clear division between the working class, or “proletariat,” and the capitalist class, or “bourgeoisie.” Workers were often subjected to long hours, low pay, and poor working conditions, with little control over their work environment or terms of employment. Profit became a key motivation, often resulting in employers prioritizing productivity and efficiency over workers’ well-being.
The establishment of wage labor marked a shift where workers became economically dependent on wages to survive, with limited ownership or control over production. This dependency sparked numerous labor movements, aiming to improve wages, working conditions, and rights. The emergence of unions and labor rights campaigns would later play a significant role in moderating some of the more exploitative aspects of wage labor under capitalism.