An increase in railroad mileage in an area led to great economic growth in that area. Between 1870 and 1890, which area had the greatest increase in railroads and, as a result, the most significant economic growth?
A. New England
B. the South
C. Western states and territories
D. the middle states
Answer (2)
Calculate the increase in railroad mileage for England: 4494 − 2507 = 1987 .
Calculate the increase in railroad mileage for the Middle States: 10964 − 3202 = 7762 .
Calculate the increase in railroad mileage for the Southern States: 11192 − 2036 = 9156 .
Calculate the increase in railroad mileage for the Western States and Territories: 24587 − 1276 = 23311 . The Western States and Territories had the greatest increase.
Calculate the increase in railroad mileage for the Pacific States and Territories: 1677 − 23 = 1654 .
The area with the greatest increase in railroad mileage between 1870 and 1890 is the Western States and Territories, so the answer is Western states and territories .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are given a table of railroad mileage for different areas in the US at different times. The question asks us to find the area with the greatest increase in railroad mileage between 1870 and 1890. This increase is assumed to correlate with significant economic growth in that area.
Calculating the Increase for Each Area To find the area with the greatest increase, we need to calculate the increase in railroad mileage for each area between 1870 and 1890. The areas are: England, Middle States, Southern States, Western States and Territories, and Pacific States and Territories.
Performing the Subtractions Let's calculate the increase for each area:
England: The increase is 4494 − 2507 = 1987 .
Middle States: The increase is 10964 − 3202 = 7762 .
Southern States: The increase is 11192 − 2036 = 9156 .
Western States and Territories: The increase is 24587 − 1276 = 23311 .
Pacific States and Territories: The increase is 1677 − 23 = 1654 .
Comparing the Increases Now, we compare the increases we calculated:
England: 1987
Middle States: 7762
Southern States: 9156
Western States and Territories: 23311
Pacific States and Territories: 1654
The largest increase is 23311, which corresponds to the Western States and Territories.
Conclusion Therefore, the area with the greatest increase in railroad mileage between 1870 and 1890 is the Western States and Territories. This suggests that the Western States and Territories experienced the most significant economic growth during this period due to the expansion of their railroad network.
Examples
The expansion of railroads in the 19th century significantly impacted economic growth. For example, consider a town where a new railway line is established. This railway facilitates the transport of goods, such as agricultural products and manufactured items, to larger markets. Consequently, local businesses thrive, employment opportunities increase, and the overall economy of the town experiences substantial growth. This illustrates how infrastructure development, like railroads, can serve as a catalyst for economic prosperity.
The area with the greatest increase in railroad mileage between 1870 and 1890 was the Western States and Territories, which experienced an increase of 23,311 miles. This expansion led to significant economic growth in those regions. Therefore, the answer is C. Western states and territories.
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