Question

question 3
why did many farmers and miners become wage workers (in their respective industries), rather than independent operators as they had originally intended? select all that apply.
□ mining became more difficult as shallow mines ran out of minerals to extract, making only deep mines profitable - which only wealthy companies could afford to mine due to the necessary equipment
□ miners were subject to strict safety standards, which required formal education they could not or would not complete
□ farmers became so indebted that they could not afford to maintain a farm, forcing them to work for wealthy farmers on large farms
□ farmers could not obtain land, so they had to work for someone else

Explanation:

• For miners: As shallow, accessible mines were depleted, only deep mining remained profitable, which required expensive equipment only wealthy companies could afford, so independent miners had to become wage workers.
• For farmers: When farmers became too indebted to sustain their own farms, they were forced to work for large landowners; also, those who couldn't acquire land had to work as wage laborers for others. Safety standards requiring formal education are not a valid reason for this shift.

Answer:

• Mining became more difficult as shallow mines ran out of minerals to extract, making only deep mines profitable - which only wealthy companies could afford to mine due to the necessary equipment
• Farmers became so indebted that they could not afford to maintain a farm, forcing them to work for wealthy farmers on large farms
• Farmers could not obtain land, so they had to work for someone else