In this excerpt, Friedrich Engels’ discussion with a middle-class gentleman shows the attitude of the middle class about the living conditions of the factory workers. . . . One day I walked with one of these middle-class gentlemen into Manchester. I spoke to him about the disgraceful unhealthy slums and drew his attention to the disgusting condition of that part of the town in which the factory workers lived. I declared that I had never seen so badly built a town in my life. He listened patiently and at the corner of the street at which we parted company he remarked: “And yet there is a great deal of money made here. Good morning, Sir.”. . .

What key event influenced the writing of this document?
a. Meiji Restoration
b. Cold War
c. Industrial Revolution
d. Russian Revolution

The correct answer is C. The Industrial Revolution infuenced the writing of this document.

Explanation:

The Industrial Revolution was a set widespread societal and technological changes that started in the UK in the early 1750s. The process in England was linked to the enclosure movement, the privatization of public rights that caused many small farmers to lose their livelihood. It provided both investment capital for landowners, who were richer, and laborers who were forced to enter the cities.  

Useful steam engines were developed in the 18th century. Initially, they were useful for operating machines in the textile industry and in the mining industry. After a quarter, steamships and railways with steam locomotives were common, and allowed transport to take place to a greater extent. During the 19th century, the industrial upheavals were spread to Western Europe, North America and Japan.

In the process, there was an extensive relocation of the popular tradition. Many people move from the countryside to the urban and industrial communities that have been built up. Thus begin a process of urbanization. Broadly speaking, the industrial revolution was a transformation from a peasant society with an emphasis on agriculture, to an industrial society with an emphasis on industrial production.