Final answer:
Factory owners during the Industrial Age would have favored laissez-faire government policy as it allowed them to conduct business with less regulation, thus maximizing their potential for profits and growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Industrial Age, the group that would have favored laissez-faire government policy, which encourages minimal regulations on businesses, would likely be B. Factory owners. These individuals benefited from minimal government intervention, allowing them to conduct business with greater freedom and less regulatory burden. Corporate growth had not been impeded by earlier regulations such as the Interstate Commerce Act and the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, revealing a preference among some business leaders for the appearance of regulation rather than substantive reform. Additionally, a small number of business leaders saw limited regulation as a way to ensure market efficiency and prevent uprisings or the spread of radical ideas.
On the other hand, labor unions advocated for better working conditions and fair wages, which often required government intervention. Government regulators and social reformers, especially the Progressives, sought to prevent social unrest and promote efficiency and fairness through various degrees of government regulation of industry and labor, therefore generally not favoring a laissez-faire approach. As advancements in technology ended the industrial age, the social structure and ideas that emerged during this period continued to influence contemporary society.