Historical Perspectives on Work Chapter 1
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Questions and Answers

What was a significant characteristic of Canada's economy during the late industrialization period?

  • Reliance on a staples economy (correct)
  • Low levels of immigration
  • Dominance of high-tech industries
  • Highly urbanized workforce
  • Which province in Canada was among the first to see the establishment of factories during industrialization?

  • British Columbia
  • Quebec
  • Maritimes (correct)
  • Alberta
  • What was the impact of U.S. firms on Canada's industrial growth?

  • They facilitated the growth of manufacturing in Canada. (correct)
  • They had no influence on industrial growth.
  • They primarily supported the railway system.
  • They caused a significant decline in manufacturing jobs.
  • What percentage of Canadian workers were employed in agriculture at the time of Confederation?

    <p>50 percent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which social concept was idealized during Canada's industrial expansion, despite economic challenges?

    <p>Male breadwinner and separate spheres</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant impact of industrialization on work practices in Western societies?

    <p>The rise of wage labor as the dominant form of work</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following was a direct result of the introduction of new technologies during industrialization?

    <p>Higher productivity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What change in societal structure does capitalism introduce compared to feudalism?

    <p>A distinct labor market defined by wage-labor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of urbanization is highlighted in the context of industrialization?

    <p>The decline of rural populations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What shift in societal norms is associated with the industrial capitalist transformation?

    <p>Emphasis on individual rights and 'clock time'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following was NOT a characteristic of industrial capitalism according to the content?

    <p>Decline in worker management</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did scientific management influence the workplace during industrialization?

    <p>Standardized processes to improve efficiency</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What notable feature of Chaplin's 'Modern Times' represents the changing conditions of labor?

    <p>Critique of mechanization and its effects on workers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the definition of 'work' as described?

    <p>Activity that provides a socially valued product or service.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best illustrates the changes in types of work from the late 1800s to present-day Canada?

    <p>Paid employment is now the norm in bureaucratic organizations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What impact has industrialization had on the concept of work?

    <p>It has caused work to be constantly changing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do sociological debates frame the concept of work?

    <p>They analyze the distribution of wealth, power, and prestige.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'creative destruction' refer to in the context of work?

    <p>An economic process where new innovations replace old ones.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What trend is indicated by the fact that two-thirds of households in present-day Canada are 'dual-earner'?

    <p>Paid work has become essential for maintaining household economies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic is not commonly associated with modern work as per the provided content?

    <p>Prevalence of informal economy jobs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major societal issue does the concept of work encompass according to key sociological debates?

    <p>The dynamics of conflict and cooperation in work environments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary consequence of the number of treaties established between 1871 and 1921?

    <p>Elimination of traditional landholding practices</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Adam Smith, what role does competition play in capitalism?

    <p>It spurs innovation and growth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the perspective of Karl Marx on capitalism?

    <p>Class conflict is an integral part of capitalist society</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Karl Marx mean by 'surplus value'?

    <p>The value produced by workers beyond their wages</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What element of capitalism did Adam Smith caution against?

    <p>The potential exploitation of workers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of work, what does the term 'alienation' refer to according to Marx?

    <p>Workers’ disconnection from their labor and its fruits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the Federal Indian Act of 1867 primarily establish?

    <p>A framework for defining 'Indian status'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a noted issue related to racism and prejudice in the context of industrialization?

    <p>The relegation of certain workers to dangerous, menial jobs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterized work in European feudal society?

    <p>Subsistence agriculture with hard physical labour</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which development is NOT associated with mercantile capitalism in the 1500s?

    <p>Growth of industrial factories</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant social change resulting from the Industrial Revolution?

    <p>Rapid urbanization and deskilling of work</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role did new technologies play during the rise of mercantile capitalism?

    <p>They facilitated the expansion of global trading</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the Industrial Revolution affect the urban working class?

    <p>It resulted in the impoverishment of many workers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterized the gender division of labor during the Industrial Revolution?

    <p>Segregation of roles based on gender</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one result of the emergence of a wealthy merchant class during the rise of mercantile capitalism?

    <p>Increased accumulation of financial capital</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key aspect of the social inequality observed in European feudal society?

    <p>Dominance of a small aristocracy and merchant class</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Historical Perspectives on Work

    • Work is defined as any activity producing a socially valued product or service, including both paid and unpaid labor.
    • Historically influenced by industrialization and capitalism, work evolves continuously; Schumpeter's concept of "creative destruction" illustrates this change.

    Changes in Work over Time

    • In late 1800s Canada, work mainly included farming, large families, and household economies gradually transitioning to "paid work."
    • Presently, paid employment is predominant, with service jobs surpassing agriculture and manufacturing; dual-earner households constitute two-thirds of all families.
    • Greater emphasis on higher education influences work dynamics and expectations.

    Sociological Debates on Work

    • Central questions include the relationship between work and wealth distribution, conflict versus cooperation in work environments, and the balance between individual agency and social structures shaping work behavior.

    Work in European Feudal Society

    • Characterized by subsistence agriculture, it involved labor-intensive work with limited technological advancement.
    • Marked social inequality existed, with a small aristocratic class and a majority of peasants experiencing poor living conditions and few rights.

    Origins of Industrial Capitalism

    • Mercantile capitalism emerged in the 1500s, focusing on global trade and colonial exploitation, leading to the rise of a wealthy merchant class.
    • The Industrial Revolution (mid to late 1700s) marked rapid social and economic changes through capital accumulation, urbanization, and the deskilling of labor.

    Definitions of Industrialization and Capitalism

    • Industrialization: Involves innovations like steam power and the establishment of factories for increased productivity.
    • Capitalism: Characterized by a labor market where wage laborers create value under the control of owners, contrasting with the systems of feudalism and socialism.

    Polanyi's "The Great Transformation"

    • Industrial capitalism reshaped Western society with wage labor becoming dominant, massive shifts in production, urban growth, and declining agricultural roles.
    • Emergence of individual rights and scheduled work (‘clock time’) became prominent, along with the advent of scientific management.

    Canada's Industrialization

    • Canada industrialized later (mid-1800s) with a "staples economy" based on abundant natural resources and a primarily rural workforce.
    • At Confederation, 50% of the labor force worked in agriculture; by 1900, Canada became the seventh largest manufacturing nation.
    • Ideal of the male breadwinner often clashed with low industrial wages supporting families only in the 1920s.

    Industrial Expansion and Labor Relations

    • The period from 1900 to the 1930s saw rapid industrial growth, introduction of scientific management, and significant labor unrest with numerous strikes in Ontario.
    • High immigration levels significantly shaped labor forces, particularly in railways and mines, amidst poor working conditions and little regulation.

    Intersection of Industrialization and Colonization

    • Colonialism and industrial capitalism were interconnected; numbered treaties aimed to dismantle Indigenous land practices.
    • Policies like the Indian Act entrenched systemic racism, relegating Indigenous peoples to low-status, dangerous jobs.

    Theoretical Perspectives on Work

    • Adam Smith: Advocated for capitalism as a driver of wealth and innovation; emphasized the division of labor and its benefits while acknowledging potential worker exploitation.
    • Karl Marx: Focused on class conflict inherent in capitalism, highlighting exploitation, alienation, and the discrepancy between ownership classes (bourgeoisie vs. proletariat) as central to understanding labor relations.

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    Description

    Explore the foundations of the concept of 'work' in this first chapter on historical perspectives. Delve into the origins of industrial capitalism and examine the industrialization of Canada. This quiz prepares you to understand these key topics and their significance in the context of work.

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