One important theme in AP US History is work, exchange, and technology. Questions on the exam will ask you to identify how new economic and technological developments shaped human history. They will also ask you to discuss exchange, or different ways groups of humans gift or trade goods.
I'm a licensed teacher and professional tutor with over ten years of experience in education. I've helped dozens of students improve their grades in their AP US History class. This article will cover the definition of work, exchange, and technology. We'll also discuss how these things have changed over time. Read on for tips you can use to improve your grades today!
Note: This post is part of a series on historical themes covered in AP US History. You can learn more about the all of the themes in AP US History at this link.
Table of Contents
Definition
Work
Work is one important aspect of economics. Work refers to the labor that humans, animals, and machines do.
One part of the economy is centered on physical products. Work is needed to extract natural resources and grow food. Work is also done when those resources move from one place to another. Many natural resources also need to be refined or processed so they can be used by humans effectively. Finally, physical goods must be distributed to homes and stores. Work is required here as well.
Overtime, more and more people have transitioned to service jobs. These jobs typically don't result in the creation of a product that you could see or touch. Instead, people in service jobs help others, provide advice, or do other kinds of work for another person. For example, a mechanic's primary job is to prevent damage and replace parts of an existing product. Similarly, a teacher may make worksheets and reports, but his primary job is to transmit knowledge. The worksheets and reports are only created to assist in this goal. Service jobs are an important aspect of work in AP US History.
Exchange
Exchange is the process of moving goods and services between businesses or individuals. In AP US History, we are generally studying how this is done through buying and selling products and services. In the United States, exchange typically occurs in markets. A market is a group of buyers and sellers for a particular thing. For example, the market for shoes includes everyone who has shoes for sale (sellers) and everyone who wants to purchase shoes (buyers). Similar markets exist for labor in the United States. Workers sell their labor in exchange for money from a business.
Exchange can affected by outside forces. For example, a government can use low taxes and investments in infrastructure to speed up the rate of exchange. Legal protections for businesses and investors can encourage businesses to expand and produce more goods. Legal protections for consumers can encourage exchange if buyers become more confident products are safe and reliable. Immigration, war, and technology can all influence the rate of exchange in an economy.
Technology
Businesses, workers, and consumers increasingly rely on technology to do work, exchange products, and consume products. Technology helps people communicate and transport products from one place to another. It also helps individuals overcome obstacles in their work. Finally, technology often has capabilities that humans do not have. Computers do not need to take lunch breaks and can do complex calculations instantaneously. Forklifts cannot be crushed trying to lift heavy products onto a shelf. Technology often makes jobs safer and less monotonous. In addition, workers who know how to use technology effectively are often more productive than workers who can't. This can translate into higher wages.
Technology also has downsides. New technological innovations often replace some people in the workforce. It is often difficult for these people to find new jobs. Many technologies rely on fossil fuels that pollute the environment and make people sick. Finally, technology played a role in making many workplaces less safe during the Industrial Revolution. Industrial accidents in textile mills, steel mills, and other types of factories often resulted in serious injuries and death.
In AP US History, we try to understand both the positive and negative impacts of new technology.
Example
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