Advanced Placement (AP) European History Practice Exam

Which concept is most prominently exemplified in the debate surrounding the enclosure movement?

1. Social equity

2. Economic efficiency

3. Urban migration

4. Rural depopulation

The correct answer is: Rural depopulation

The debate surrounding the enclosure movement primarily exemplifies the concept of rural depopulation. Enclosure involved the consolidation of common lands into individually owned plots, which significantly altered traditional agricultural practices and disrupted the existing social order. With common lands no longer accessible, many rural peasants and small farmers found themselves unable to sustain their livelihoods. This led to large-scale migrations of displaced individuals from rural areas to urban centers in search of work, contributing to urban growth and changes in social structures during the Industrial Revolution. While the enclosure movement did touch upon issues of social equity, economic efficiency, and urban migration, the most direct impact was the significant rural depopulation that resulted from the loss of common land and traditional agricultural practices. This demographic shift profoundly influenced both rural and urban economies and societies in England and later across Europe.