Which statement best explains why, during the 1800s, manufacturers resisted workers’ demands for higher wages and safer workplaces?
manufacturers had already spent money on training their workers.
manufacturers were afraid workers would make additional demands.
manufacturers knew their workforce would have to become smaller.
manufacturers knew their companies would become less productive.

The answer is; Manufacturers knew their companies would become less productive.

The clamor for higher wages by employees meant an even larger proportion of the profits by the industry would be spent on paying employees and, also, it would cost much more to modify workplaces and buy equipment so that the safety of  employees while working is guaranteed.  

During the 1800s, manufacturers resisted workers demand because the manufacturers feared that their companies would become less profitable.  

Further explanation:  

The entire phase of the period stretching from 1800 was a period of conflict between the management and the workers. The reasons varied but the idea remained the same, i.e., the workers felt exploited at the hands of the management. They cited reasons such as low payment, unhygienic and unsafe working conditions, work overload, absence of cooperation on the part of the management etc. In order to uplift their working conditions, the workers started to form guilds and unions. Through this, they wanted to put their demands in front of the management so that their issues can be dealt with. They even went on frequent strikes.  

Despite constant vigorous measures on their part to ensure that their demands were met, the management paid no heed to the worker's pressing needs. The management felt that any step taken to alleviate their standard of living by increasing their wages or meeting their other demands would cost heavily which will eventually be nothing but a loss of earned profits on the part of the management.  

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Answer details:

Subject: U. S. History

Chapter: Workers of industrialization

Grade: High School

Keywords: Union, Guilds, Vigorous measures, pressing needs, working conditions, loss of earned profits, low wages, less profitable

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