Final answer:
The factory system and mass production led to increased supply of goods and lower prices for consumers, as opposed to the smaller scale and less efficient cottage industry. This made goods more accessible, but also resulted in worker exploitation and challenges such as overproduction. Option b.
Step-by-step explanation:
The impact of the factory system and mass production on products, compared to the cottage industry, was profound. The transition from artisanal home-making goods to mechanized factory production resulted in a significant increase in the efficiency and speed of manufacturing processes. This increase in productivity led to increased supply and ultimately to lower prices for consumers. Instead of the higher prices due to increased quality, or larger debts due to investment, the assembly line production achieved through industrialization made it possible for finished goods to be manufactured with greater efficiency than ever before.
Many skilled laborers found their craft degraded by the repetitive nature of factory work. The pursuit of maximized profits by factory owners led to the exploitation of cheap labor, including women and children. Although the urbanization and migration to cities for factory jobs resulted in a crisis of overproduction and economic collapse, it can't be denied that the factory system provided a wealth of goods at lower prices, thus answering option B) Increased supply led to lower prices.