All of the options you provided reflect some negative impacts of gold and silver mining in the West. However, if we consider the key issues, the most significant negative impacts were:
-
Tent cities near the mines fostered criminals as long-term residents. - The rapid influx of people and the lawlessness of mining camps often led to increased crime and violence.
-
Ghost towns were left behind after the mines stopped producing. - Many mining camps eventually became deserted once resources were depleted, leading to abandoned towns and economic decline.
-
Mining camps were sources of many contagious diseases. - The crowded and unsanitary conditions in mining camps contributed to the spread of diseases, impacting the health of those living there.
-
Mass migration from the East Coast led to social tension among merchants. - This mass migration created competition for resources and business, leading to social tensions among different groups.
Each of these points accurately reflects the negative consequences of mining in the West, but the issues of lawlessness, economic instability from ghost towns, and public health crises were particularly notable.