Final answer:
The use of interchangeable parts in gun manufacturing, developed by Eli Whitney, is true to have helped initiate the Industrial Revolution. It allowed for precise and efficient mass production, replacing skilled artisanal work with machines and unskilled labor, significantly transforming the manufacturing industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the use of interchangeable parts in gun manufacturing helped usher in the Industrial Revolution is true. Eli Whitney is credited with developing the system of interchangeable parts which significantly transformed manufacturing. Before this innovation, all products were unique and handcrafted, requiring custom replacement parts which were both costly and time-consuming to make. With interchangeable parts, products could be assembled more efficiently, with each part identical to another, thus allowing unskilled workers and machines to replace skilled gunmakers. This method greatly increased the reliability and availability of manufactured goods, inducing a major shift in industrial practices.
This technique not only made production more efficient but also altered the workforce dynamics. Unskilled laborers could be employed to operate machines or assemble products, which decreased the dependence on highly skilled artisans and decreased labor costs. Interchangeable parts propagated throughout various industries and changed the nature of both manufacturing and labor.