Final answer:
The American Medical Association was founded in 1847, preceding other options and reflecting the time's broader racial inequalities, with policies that excluded Black physicians. The correct answer is option b.
Step-by-step explanation:
The founding of the American Medical Association (AMA) occurred in 1847. It was an important milestone in the development of medical standards and practices in the United States. However, the AMA did not have substantial power in its early years to regulate medical practices, and it was marked by exclusionary policies, notably the refusal to admit Black physicians, which led to the formation of the National Medical Association in 1895 to address the professional needs of African American physicians.
Despite its prestige, the AMA's early policies reflected the broader racial inequalities of the time, as Black physicians were barred from membership and thereby denied access to critical professional resources and opportunities.