The correct answer is B. Business owners often reacted to strikes by hiring armed men and scabs to break them up
Step-by-step explanation:
Labor unions were organizations of workers that aimed at representing the workers, negotiating with business owners and getting better condition worders. This type of organizations first emerged in England during the 18th century as a result of the Industrial Revolution and from this, expanded to other countries of Europe and event the U.S. However, early labor unions find difficulties in achieving their goals as government and business owners did not accept them and instead persecute them.
Because of this, strikers and protests were often stopped by military forces or armed men hired by business owners or send my government, but also business owners usually hired scabs which were workers that replace those that were on strike. Thus, the statement that describes an obstacle faced by early labor unions is "Business owners often reacted to strikes by hiring armed men and scabs to break them up".