The most accurate response to how governments after 1450 used laws, policies, and processes to affect labor systems is:
Governmental systems used laws, policies, and other systems of enforcement to control labor systems and those who participated in them. These included pro-slavery laws in the 1700s and the use of federal troops to quash strikes in the 1800s.
Analysis:
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Pro-Slavery Laws:
- During the 1700s, many countries, particularly in the Americas, enacted laws that supported and institutionalized slavery. These laws were designed to protect the rights of slave owners and ensure the continuation of slavery as a labor system, reflecting the economic interests of colonial and early American societies. Such laws included slave codes, which regulated the behavior and treatment of enslaved people and provided severe penalties for attempts to escape or resist.
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Use of Federal Troops to Quash Strikes:
- In the 19th century, particularly during the Industrial Revolution, labor movements began to gain momentum as workers organized strikes to demand better wages and working conditions. In response, governments in various countries, including the United States, often deployed federal troops or law enforcement agencies to suppress these strikes and maintain order. This shows an institutional preference for maintaining the existing labor structures and preventing any disruption that could threaten economic stability or capitalist interests.
The other responses contain inaccuracies, particularly regarding the characterization of the nature of laws and government actions. For instance, anti-slavery laws did not come prominently into play until later movements aimed at abolishing slavery, and the assertion of the use of troops to "encourage" strikes contradicts the historical context of government responses, which were typically repressive rather than supportive during this period.
Thus, the chosen statement accurately reflects how governments exercised control over labor systems through legislative and enforcement mechanisms.