Final answer:
Commercialization is the process that occurred when people began to buy and sell goods in the general market rather than producing them for their own use, especially notable during the early nineteenth century's market revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
When people began to buy and sell goods rather than make them for their own personal use, this transition is referred to as Commercialization. This term describes the process by which a new product or service is introduced into the general market. Commercialization became more prevalent during the market revolution in the early nineteenth century, as the United States moved from home production to factory production. This shift was characterized by a greater emphasis on supply, demand, and price, rather than the social relationships that previously dominated economic transactions.
In essence, commercialization represented a departure from older economic models such as mercantilism, where the exchanges were less about cash and more about other forms of purchase arrangements and social contracts. With the advent of commercialization, money became the primary mobilizer of goods and people, leading to a system of anonymous transactions where individuals were recognized for their ability to honor contracts. This fundamental change paved the way for capitalism and a wage-based economy, where individuals used their earnings to acquire goods that were now mass-produced by industries.