The Prompt:
A nascent retail market in the first half of the 19th century would change the lives of working Americans. A new method of production—the division of labor—would intensify the productive power of human labor while disrupting the traditions and customs of craftwork.
In what ways did the division of labor change the nature of work for urban artisans and journeymen, and how did the competing observations of Adam Smith differ from Alexis de Tocqueville regarding this new method of production?
Conclude your paper with your thoughts on whether the division of labor benefited workers, as Smith claims, or was to their detriment and inimical to democracy as de Tocqueville argues.
Support your paper with relevant evidence from class readings. Use proper attribution, citing the author’s last name and page number when quoting directly and paraphrasing from the readings. All papers must be typed, double-spaced throughout and five (5) pages in length, each numbered with standard one-inch margins and size 12 font. Respect the page limit. Correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation matter.
Use only those sources that have been assigned and discussed in class; do not use any other sources, especially those from the Internet.