The Best Explanation for the Rapid Rise in Skilled Wages

question 16

Multiple Choice

The best explanation for the rapid rise in skilled wages relative to unskilled wages in antebellum U.S. is:

• A) The demand for unskilled labor fell while the demand for skilled labor increased.
• B) The supply for unskilled labor increased and the supply for skilled labor remained the same.
• C) While both the supply and demand for skilled and unskilled labor grew during the period, the supply of unskilled labor grew relative to the supply of skilled labor.
• D) The supply and demand for skilled labor increased while both decreased for unskilled labor.

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Definitions:

African-Americans

An ethnic or racial category in the USA comprised of individuals who have ancestral ties to any of the African black racial groups.

Cult of Domesticity

A prevailing value system among the upper and middle classes during the 19th century in the United States and Britain that emphasized the virtues of women in their roles as mothers and housewives.

Marquis de Lafayette

A French aristocrat and military officer who played a significant role in the American Revolution by aiding the Thirteen Colonies in their quest for independence from Britain.