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Difficulty: EasyRise of Industrial Capitalism and Business Consolidation

Source: U.S. House of Representatives Resolution, 1872

"Resolved, That the policy of granting subsidies in public lands to railroads and other corporations... ought to be discontinued; and that the public lands should be held for the use and benefit of actual settlers only."

Which of the following Gilded Age developments was a direct result of the federal policy criticized in the excerpt?

  1. A
    The successful preservation of Native American communal lands from homesteading
  2. The rapid expansion of a national railway network controlled by consolidated corporationsAnswer
  3. C
    The strict enforcement of antitrust laws to prevent the growth of corporate monopolies
  4. D
    The implementation of federal regulations guaranteeing a minimum wage for factory workers

Answer

The rapid expansion of a national railway network controlled by consolidated corporations
The correct option identifies that federal land grants to railroads directly enabled the construction of a vast, integrated transcontinental railway system, which was dominated by consolidated corporate trusts.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus
The 1872 resolution criticizes the federal government's policy of granting public land subsidies to railroad corporations.
Understanding the source is necessary to identify which federal action is being referenced and criticized.
2
Connect the policy to historical outcomes
Federal land grants and subsidies directly supported the rapid construction of transcontinental railroads, leading to corporate consolidation in the transportation industry.
This links the federal policy directly to the development of industrial capitalism and corporate growth.

Key Concept

Government subsidies and the expansion of consolidated corporate railroad networks
Estimated Time:50s
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Topics

Rise of Industrial Capitalism and Business Consolidation

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