hard · SAT Reading & Writing
Critics of the 'Great Man' theory of history argue that the focus on individual leaders obscures the broader social and economic forces that truly shape events. They point to the Industrial Revolution, noting that while inventors like James Watt are celebrated, the transition would have been impossible without a pre-existing network of skilled artisans and a specific legal framework for property rights.
Which finding, if true, would most directly support the critics' argument?
- A biography of James Watt revealing that his unique upbringing and personal genius were the sole factors in his successful design of the steam engine.
- Records showing several other inventors built similar engines around Watt's time, suggesting the breakthrough was inevitable given prevailing conditions.
- Documentation that the Industrial Revolution led to a significant increase in the average lifespan of urban workers in Britain.
- A survey of modern historians showing that the majority still prefer to teach history through the lives of exceptional individuals.
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