Question

"Because of the U.S. Civil War, the Texas cattle industry turned into a profitable nationwide industry." Which of the following statements identifies evidence that best supports this argument?
(A) Because slavery was abolished after the Civil War, cash crops were no longer the most important goods sold in the Texas economy.
(B) A naval blockade of the Texas coast and Mississippi River during the Civil War resulted in more cattle being shipped to the western frontier.
(C) An abundance of cattle existed in Texas after the Civil War, and ranchers needed to find ways to sell it to northern cities.
(D) Overhunting of buffalo resulted in more Indigenous people trading with ranchers to get cattle for food and other resources.

Answer 1

(C)

Explanation: The key evidence is that after the Civil War Texas had a large cattle supply and ranchers needed markets in northern cities — this directly explains why the Texas cattle trade expanded into a profitable nationwide industry (drives to railheads, shipping to eastern markets). The other choices either don’t link the Civil War to nationwide cattle markets (A, D) or are less directly relevant (B).