Question

What were some effects of the Columbian Exchange?

Africa grew wealthy from the slave trade, the Americas gained gold from Europe, and the merchant class of Europe was born.
Africa’s population declined, the Americas flourished with plants from Europe, and wealth flowed in the European economy.
African society was torn apart by the slave trade, the Americas exported finished goods to Europe, and European countries invested in the American stock market.
West Africa began agricultural farming, the Americas were introduced to horses, and Europe started funding state banks.

Answer 1

The second option is best.

- Africa’s population declined: The transatlantic slave trade removed millions of people and caused social disruption and population loss in many African regions.
- The Americas flourished with plants from Europe: Old World crops and animals (wheat, sugarcane, rice, horses, cattle, pigs) transformed agriculture and economies in the Americas (even though indigenous populations also suffered catastrophic disease and social upheaval).
- Wealth flowed into the European economy: Silver, sugar, tobacco and other New World goods, plus new trade routes, brought large amounts of wealth to Europe and helped fuel commercial and financial growth.

The other choices contain incorrect or misleading claims (for example, the Americas did not gain gold from Europe, the colonies usually exported raw commodities rather than finished goods, and West Africa already practiced agriculture long before the Columbian Exchange).