How did the Industrial Revolution affect urbanization and labor in the United States?

• A. Accelerated urbanization and factory growth
• B. Slower urban growth
• C. Decline in factory employment
• D. Decreased labor unions

Answer: (A)

Industrialization drew large numbers of people into cities and transformed how they worked. Factories needed a dense labor force and easy access to markets, power, and transportation, so production concentrated in urban areas. This drew workers from rural areas and immigrants to cities, driving rapid urban growth. At the same time, work shifted from home-based or craft production to wage labor in factories, changing daily life and labor relations. So, accelerated urbanization alongside factory growth best captures the period. The other options don’t fit: urban growth did not slow, factory employment did not decline, and unions did not decrease—in fact, they formed in response to factory conditions.