When Hughes and Cain (2011) say that workers lacked an "economic identity" until the middle decades of the 19th century, they mean all of the following except

Question

(a) Earlier in U.S. history, most adults were self-employed and, therefore, did not think of themselves as having common interests with laborers possessing views that workers
should position themselves against employers.
(b) Earlier in U.S. history, production was carried out in shops within the guild structure. The tight relationships among apprentices, journeymen, and master encouraged workers to think of themselves as sharing interests with employers.
(c) The establishment of the factory system and its large size increased the net benefits of separating the interests of the workers and employers.
(d) Earlier in U.S. history, the laws forbade workers from organizing to promote their own interests and, therefore, labor could not achieve a recognized identity.

Answer 1

(d)