Final answer:
The Second Industrial Revolution both increased and restricted worker freedoms; new opportunities came with harsh working conditions, offset by access to consumer goods and some improvements in living standards.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Second Industrial Revolution expanded freedoms for some workers by offering new job opportunities, while it tightened control over others through long hours and unsafe conditions. It had a profound impact on all workers, transforming traditional forms of labor and reshaping social structures. It brought about a mix of opportunities and challenges, contributing to the formation of class distinctions and social tensions.
Workers could not be bought or sold and could legally leave jobs, but poverty often restricted real freedom, compelling them to work under harsh conditions to avoid destitution. Industrialization also led to mass-produced goods and improved living standards, albeit with the sacrifice of personal control over work life.