Final answer:
As visitors arrived for the fair, the major issue was the fear of labor conflicts, capital interests, and the aftermath of the Haymarket trial during a time of economic growth yet looming depression. Option d is correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The issue that still loomed large as visitors arrived for the fair was the fear of labor conflicts, capital interests, and specifically the aftermath of the Haymarket trial. This period in American history was marked by the economic growth of the era and the new wave of industrialization. However, this growth was accompanied by serious socioeconomic issues. The World's Fair attracted visitors during a time when the nation was heading towards a severe depression, leading to frustrations among the working class and fueling the nation's first significant labor movements. This was a time for the nation marred by the fears of the Red Scare, suspicion towards immigrants, and labor-related political strife, epitomized by the controversial Haymarket affair, which involved a violent clash between labor protesters and police.
Fear and distrust of foreigners were exacerbated by events like the trial of Italian immigrants Sacco and Vanzetti, reinforcing the idea that foreign ideologies and people posed a serious threat to American society. This Red Scare mentality contributed to the broader fear that labor unions and strikes could be the precursors to a communist takeover, akin to the Bolshevik revolution in Russia.
As people flooded into cities from abroad and from rural areas within the US, there were serious concerns about the ability of these diverse populations to integrate and maintain social order, especially in the congested urban areas where resources were limited and competition for jobs was high.
American society at the time was challenged by profound economic, cultural, and political changes, and the fair's arrival sparked fears related to the tensions between rapid industrial development, labor rights, and social cohesion. The Haymarket trial, labor strikes, and the presence of 'Hooverville' shantytowns were indicative of the widespread economic and social unrest that overshadowed the fair's festivities.