Final answer:
To address the surplus of goods during the industrial era, manufacturers turned to marketing strategies and international markets. Increased real wages allowed more consumers to purchase mass-produced goods, and imperialism provided additional markets and resources, fueling the expansion of mass manufacturing.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the period between 1850 and 1901, manufacturers faced the challenge of generating demand for the surplus of goods produced by the rapidly growing industrial economy. To solve this issue, innovative marketing strategies were employed.
Trading cards and advertisements in newspapers and magazines proliferated, creating a culture that held material aspirations in high esteem, turning desire into a product as significant as the goods themselves.
This era also saw the use of international markets, as industrial nations like Britain expanded their reach through imperialism, finding new customers in colonies and foreign lands.
Furthermore, advancements in technology and increased yields from agriculture provided both a surplus workforce and consumers for industrial products, fueling an ever-growing consumer market.
Domestically, the spread of consumer culture was bolstered by the mass production of goods that were now affordable to the working class. This marked a significant shift from a time when skilled artisans made products that were out of reach for many.
The working families, now benefiting from higher real wages, were able to purchase items that improved their standard of living, such as clothing, furniture, and essential household items.
The growth of consumerism was further aided by the advent of electrification and the proliferation of new industries, such as automobiles and home appliances.
New consumer markets were thus created both domestically and internationally, with colonialism playing a crucial role in providing captive markets for industrial goods as well as sourcing raw materials required for production, leading to a cycle that supported the continuation of mass manufacturing.