Question

Why were the English the first to build factories to mill cloth? Because of the wealth they gained, the trade connections they made, and the banking systems they developed in the slave and sugar trade. Indeed, the cheap cloth from the factories was used to clothe the slaves. English factories, you might say, were built, run, and paid for by sugar.

Which excerpt from the passage best states the authors’ claim?

"Why were the English the first to build factories to mill cloth?"
"Because of the wealth they gained, the trade connections they made, and the banking systems they developed in the slave and sugar trade."
"Indeed, the cheap cloth from the factories was used to clothe the slaves."
"English factories, you might say, were built, run, and paid for by sugar."

Answer 1

"English factories, you might say, were built, run, and paid for by sugar."

This sentence states the author's main claim; the other lines are a question or supporting details.