Mechanization's Impact on European Production
The following passage is based on an analysis of industrialization in Europe.
“The process of mechanization deeply altered the landscape of production by replacing hand labor with machine power. In factories, the rhythm of work shifted from the pace of the human body to the mechanical cadence of the newly introduced machines. These changes disrupted traditional craft practices and redefined the value of skilled labor. Workers found themselves organized into large, anonymous groups rather than in small artisanal productions. The transformation was both celebrated for boosting productivity and critiqued for dehumanizing the labor process.”
Source: Based on E.P. Thompson, The Making of the English Working Class, 1963
According to the passage, how did mechanization transform production in Europe?
It led to a gradual decrease in overall productivity due to persistent machine malfunctions and breakdowns.
It increased productivity by replacing manual labor with machines, thereby reducing costs and increasing output.
It solely benefited the aristocracy, leaving the working class unaffected in terms of production gains.
It resulted in a significant reduction in the production of goods as workers uniformly resisted machine-based labor.
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