Question

What is the main idea of this paragraph?

(1) Today, people who find themselves with too much debt can get help from the government. (2) But before the mid 1800s, Americans who couldn't pay their debts were often given harsh punishments. (3) Some people were put in a jail called “debtor's prison.” (4) They were forced to sit in their cells until they had the money to pay back their debts. (5) However, since they couldn't go to work, there was no way for them to get the money unless someone gave it to them. (6) Many people died in debtor's prison because they could not afford to leave. (7) Some people were required to give away everything they had, except for their bedding, in order to pay back a debt. (8) Other people were compelled to become indentured servants—that is, forced to work without a salary until their debt was paid. (9) Sometimes even the children of people who owed money were required to work in order to pay off their parents' debt.

Answer 1

The paragraph’s main idea is the harsh treatments and consequences faced by individuals with debt before the mid-1800s, such as debtor's prisons and forced labor, which made it extremely difficult for them to repay their debts.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main idea of the paragraph is about the challenges and severe consequences faced by people in debt in historical times. It describes the lack of governmental assistance for those in debt and the harsh punishments that were imposed, including debtor's prisons, forced labor, and the loss of nearly all possessions. These measures made it nearly impossible for debtors to work their way out of debt, often resulting in dire outcomes such as being trapped in the cycle of debt or even death.