Final answer:
Significantly reduced prices and improved quality merchandise were the main factors that prompted people to buy more goods in the mid-1800s.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the mid-1800s, several factors prompted people to buy more goods. One of the main reasons was significantly reduced prices. As industrialization and mechanization increased, the production of goods became more efficient, leading to lower costs and making products more accessible to consumers. For example, the price of textiles, including clothing and housewares, dramatically decreased, allowing people to afford a larger variety of items.
Additionally, improved quality merchandise played a role in the increase in consumer purchases. As factories mass-produced goods, the overall quality of products improved over time. People were attracted to well-made items that were now affordable due to industrialization.