13. The Slave South, 1820

Quiz for Beyond America’s Borders: Cotton’s Global Empire

Choose the best answer to each question. Click the “submit” button for each question to turn in your work.

Question 13.1

1. What technological innovation(s) allowed America to rapidly increase its cotton production and become the prime cotton supplier for several European countries?

A new machine to clean raw cotton

Faster ships to transport the cotton abroad

More efficient machines to spin the cotton into yarn

Modern city sewer systems to allow for a sufficient factory workforce

Question 13.2

2. How did cotton change the workforce in Great Britain?

African slavery was reinstituted in Great Britain.

Great Britain imported many workers from its colonies abroad.

Cotton manufacturing drew many new workers from the British countryside.

Workers now had more time off, and new leisure activities emerged.

Question 13.3

3. What impact did the growth of cotton production have on the workforce in the United States?

It created a big demand for more immigrants to join the workforce.

It caused wage laborers to move from northern cities to the southern cotton-growing regions.

It caused the westward expansion of plantation slavery.

It forced the government to become more involved in regulating the workplace environment.

Question 13.4

4. Why were European countries so dependent on the United States for cotton imports?

American technology was better for growing cotton.

The European climate was not suitable for growing cotton.

American cotton was cheaper than European cotton.

European cotton production could not keep up with demand.

Question 13.5

5. According to observers, what were the conditions for wage laborers in industrial cities such as Manchester and Liverpool?

Working and living conditions were terrible.

Workers had more disposable income than they were used to having.

The new housing complexes for workers were very impressive and modern.