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What did the mechanical reaper inadvertently do?

(A) Increased the production of crops
(B) Led to urbanization
(C) Caused unemployment among farm workers
(D) All of the above

2 Answers

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Final answer:

The mechanical reaper inadvertently increased crop production, caused unemployment among farm workers, and led to urbanization. Therefore, the answer is (D) All of the above.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mechanical reaper, invented by Cyrus McCormick, had several inadvertent effects on society and the economy. The reaper increased the production of crops by allowing farmers to harvest grain more efficiently than before. As a result of such technological advancements, there was less need for farm labor, which contributed to unemployment among farm workers. Simultaneously, the increased efficiency in agriculture supported urbanization by driving rural populations to seek industrial jobs in cities. Thus, the mechanical reaper had a notable impact by accelerating agricultural productivity, influencing population migration towards urban centers, and affecting rural labor force dynamics.

Overall, the mechanical reaper inadvertently (A) Increased the production of crops, (B) Led to urbanization, and (C) Caused unemployment among farm workers, making the correct answer (D) All of the above.

User Matthew Hood
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Final answer:

The mechanical reaper increased crop production, led to urbanization by driving rural populations to cities, and caused unemployment among farm workers, thus the correct answer is (D) All of the above.

The correct answer is D.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mechanical reaper, developed by Cyrus McCormick, inadvertently did several things. (A) Increased the production of crops due to its efficiency in harvesting, which was significantly faster than traditional hand methods. (B) Led to urbanization because, as farm labor needs decreased due to mechanical efficiency, surplus rural populations migrated to cities in search of work.

(C) Caused unemployment among farm workers because the reaper and other mechanized agricultural tools reduced the need for a large labor force on the farm. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is (D) All of the above.

User Yves Dorfsman
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