Westward Expansion: Economic Development Practice Test

Secondary-source excerpt (c. 105 words): Mining and railroad expansion altered western demographics. Historians note that many new communities were overwhelmingly male at first, with saloons and boardinghouses catering to transient workers. Over time, as rail connections stabilized supply lines and as families arrived, towns developed schools, churches, and more diversified businesses. Still, boom-and-bust cycles and seasonal labor kept many places socially fluid. The gender imbalance and mobility shaped local politics and culture as much as economics.

Which early characteristic of many mining camps best fits the excerpt’s description?

Secondary-source excerpt (c. 100 words): Western boosters portrayed the region as a land of opportunity, but historians note that much development relied on wage labor and corporate organization. In timber, mining, and railroads, large firms controlled access to capital, equipment, and transportation. Small operators often depended on these firms for credit and markets. As a result, economic power in many western communities was concentrated in a few hands, even as the language of individualism remained popular.

Which example best illustrates the corporate control described in the excerpt?