Which of the following best describes how the factory system impacted towns during the Industrial Revolution?

• A. It caused towns to become less populated as people returned to rural areas.
• B. It led to rapid urbanization as people moved to towns for factory jobs.
• C. It resulted in a decrease in economic activity within towns.
• D. It made towns more reliant on agricultural production.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the context of the Industrial Revolution, which was a period marked by the transition from agrarian economies to industrialized ones, with the rise of factories.
2. Recognize that the factory system centralized production in specific locations, typically in towns or cities, creating a demand for labor in these areas.
3. Analyze the impact on population distribution: as factories needed workers, people migrated from rural areas to towns seeking employment opportunities.
4. Identify that this migration caused towns to grow rapidly, a process known as urbanization, which is the increase in the population and expansion of towns and cities.
5. Conclude that the factory system led to rapid urbanization as people moved to towns for factory jobs, rather than causing depopulation or increased reliance on agriculture.