Final answer:
The Great Britain, the United States, France, and Germany were more prosperous in the 1850s due to their experience with political stability and industrialization. They embraced industrial advancements and imperialism, which provided them with raw materials and markets for their industrial goods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason that Great Britain, the United States, France, and Germany were far more prosperous than most of the rest of the world in the 1850s was because all four countries: B. Experienced political stability and industrialization.
Great Britain's industrialization was supported by factors like a parliament filled with free trade believers, access to coal, a reliable banking system to fund enterprises, and a legal system favoring commercial enterprise.
Similarly, the United States leveraged its geographical expansion and rich natural resources to become one of the wealthiest nations. Both countries built strong infrastructures and maintained stable governments that fostered economic growth.
After its unification in 1871, Germany rapidly industrialized, surpassing Great Britain in steel production in the 1890s and becoming a major military and imperial power. France, albeit slower due to less abundant resources and older production methods, also embraced industrialization through railroads and factory systems, replacing the domestic system.
All four nations benefitted from political stability, which allowed them to focus resources on industrial advancements rather than conflicts. They also used imperialism to acquire colonies that supplied raw materials and markets for their industrial goods, bolstering their prosperity.