Final answer:
The transition from family workshops to factory production during the Industrial Revolution led to more efficient but less skilled labor, resulting in standardized production and a disconnection between workers and the finished goods they produced.
Step-by-step explanation:
Family Workshop vs Factory Production
The transition from family workshops to factory production was a hallmark of the Industrial Revolution. In a family workshop, work was integrated into the household and goods were produced or the family by the family, often allowing for a tangible connection to the labor and the finished product. With the rise of factories and the assembly line, production became more efficient, but workers typically performed monotonous tasks disconnected from the final product. This led to a change in how workers identified with their work and saw the fruits of their labor.
Factories required less skilled labor compared to the craftsman of the past, allowing for the production of a larger number of standardized products at a lower cost. The division of labor meant that factory workers often only saw the one piece they worked on, not the finished product, which affected job satisfaction and workers' connection to their work. Over time, the efficiency of factories grew, with workers organized in a hierarchy and managed closely to maximize productivity.
While factory production did provide more jobs and eventually lead to higher wages and shorter workweeks, it also created a disconnect between the laborer and their work. Skilled positions were much reduced, affecting upward mobility and leaving workers feeling more alienated than ever before.