Question 11 (1 point)

Question

Listen
Which of the following statements is true about the impact of the cotton gin and railroads on westward expansion?

Question 11 options:

A)

Railroads allowed for faster trade of cotton, reducing the need for slavery. The railroads stopped slavery's expansion while fueling westward expansion of trade to new regions.

B)

The cotton gin made cotton processing faster, fueling the expansion of slavery to new lands in the South and West. Railroads opened up faster transportation routes to these areas.

C)

The cotton gin and railroads both made cotton farming far less profitable, discouraging the settlement of new western lands for agriculture. Instead, people moved to cities.

D)

The cotton gin increased demand for cotton, reducing the need for railroads. New railroads competed with existing trade routes rather than enabling expansion to new lands.

Answer 1

The true statement about the impact of the cotton gin and railroads on westward expansion is:

B) The cotton gin made cotton processing faster, fueling the expansion of slavery to new lands in the South and West. Railroads opened up faster transportation routes to these areas.

This statement accurately reflects how the invention of the cotton gin significantly increased the demand for cotton production, leading to the expansion of slavery into new territories, while railroads provided crucial infrastructure for transporting cotton and other goods, facilitating westward movement.