Question

Read each question and choose the best answer. The so-called "consumer revolution" that occurred between 1720 and 1770 refers to

a) The transatlantic exchange of African slaves, British goods, and American raw materials.
b) The expansion of transatlantic commerce between England and its colonies.
c) The importation of fewer British goods to the colonies in North America.
d) The rise in immigration to the colonies due to increased demand for consumer goods.

Answer 1

The "consumer revolution" refers to the rise in the availability and consumption of British goods by the American colonies, deepening economic and cultural ties with Great Britain. Option D is the correct answer.

Explanation:

The so-called "consumer revolution" that occurred between 1720 and 1770 refers to (d) The rise in immigration to the colonies due to increased demand for consumer goods.

The consumer revolution was characterized by an increase in availability and consumption of goods from England within the American colonies. This era saw colonists importing more British goods, facilitated by the British economic policies and the Atlantic economy. The demand for these goods created deep economic ties with Great Britain and reflected changes in tastes, consumer behaviors, and the expansion of a shared Atlantic culture.

Items such as tea sets became symbols of status and were widely sought after, emphasizing the colonists' participation in a growing empire-wide consumer culture. This period also contributed to the wider availability of printed materials, thus enhancing the flow of ideas and linking the empire together culturally as well as economically.