Question

Which of the following were the five biggest industries in the United States at the turn of the 20th century? Select 5.

iron
farm equipment
lumber
shipbuilding
textiles
food
gold mining
steel

Answer 1

iron
lumber
textiles
food
steel

Reason: Around 1900 the largest U.S. manufacturing sectors by value and employment included metal production (iron and especially steel), lumber/wood products, textiles, and food processing (meatpacking and canned goods). Shipbuilding, gold mining and farm-equipment manufacturing were significant in niches but not among the top five.