Final answer:
The Industrial Revolution was a period of rapid industrialization and technological advancements characterized by a move from agrarian to machine-based manufacturing, which significantly transformed society.(option a)
Step-by-step explanation:
The Industrial Revolution refers to the period of rapid industrialization and technological advancements that occurred in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This era was marked by a shift away from agriculture and handicraft production to manufacturing with machines, such as the steam engine, power loom, and steam locomotive. These technological innovations massively increased production capabilities and changed the social and economic landscape of the time.
Laissez-faire economics was a popular theory during the Industrial Revolution, advocating for minimal government intervention in the economy. The era also saw opposition to industrialization by groups like the Luddites, who feared that machines would replace their jobs and disrupt their way of life. Overall, the Industrial Revolution greatly transformed society, leading to what we now understand as an industrial society.