A) In the late 1800s, state Granger Laws were intended to address the challenges that farmers faced regarding the unfair practices of railroad companies and grain elevator operators. Farmers were struggling with high shipping rates, discriminatory pricing, and monopolistic practices that exploited them. The Granger movement sought to regulate these practices through legislation to lower transportation costs and ensure fair access to shipping and marketing their goods.
B) Nativists were hostile to immigrants for several reasons, including fears of losing jobs to immigrant workers, concerns about cultural and social changes brought by newcomers, and racial or ethnic prejudice. Nativists often believed that immigrants would not assimilate into American society and that they posed a threat to American values and traditions. Additionally, there were economic fears that immigrants would drive down wages and take jobs from native-born citizens, leading to resentment and a push for restrictive immigration policies.