which statement best describes a major economic problem faced by farmers in the West that led to the populist movement?

Question

which statement best describes a major economic problem faced by farmers in the West that led to the populist movement?
A. 
Farmers faced hardships because of high shipping costs for their crops.
B. 
Farmers lost income because of unfair taxes imposed on their crops.
C. 
Farmers feared that the availability of free silver would hurt the economy.
D. 
Farmers worried that railroad strikes would prevent access to new markets.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The statement that best describes a major economic problem faced by farmers in the West that led to the populist movement is:

A. Farmers faced hardships because of high shipping costs for their crops.

High shipping costs charged by railroads were a significant concern for farmers, as they ate into their profits and made it difficult for them to compete in the market. This issue, along with others, fueled the discontent that gave rise to the Populist movement.