Question

Which of the following is a reason why the railroads sometimes inhibited, or

hurt, westward expansion?
A
The railroads made no effort to attract immigration to the West.
O The railroad often went broke, because they charged ruinously low prices to haul produce
O The railroads paid Chinese laborers exorbitantly high salaries, and passed on the costs to their
shareholders
Railroads often sold land granted to them by the government to land speculators instead of to

Answer 1

The railroads inhibited westward expansion by selling land to speculators instead of settlers, charging high prices for hauling produce, and not actively attracting immigrants to settle in the West.

Step-by-step explanation:

The main reason why railroads sometimes inhibited westward expansion was because they often sold land granted to them by the government to land speculators instead of to actual settlers. This resulted in large portions of land being held by a few wealthy individuals rather than being available for homesteaders and farmers who wanted to settle in the West. The railroads prioritized making profits from land sales rather than facilitating the development of new settlements.

Additionally, although the railroads played a significant role in promoting westward expansion by providing transportation links, they also had negative consequences. For example, the railroads charged high prices to haul produce, which sometimes caused financial ruin for farmers. This hindered agricultural development and expansion in the West.

Finally, the railroads attracted immigrant labor to work on their construction projects, but they did not make sustained efforts to attract immigrants to settle in the West. As a result, the population growth of the West was slower compared to regions where immigrants were actively encouraged to settle and contribute to economic development.

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