🎓 CLEP Exam Prep

Which of the following was a key factor in the rapid industrial growth and the rise of trusts during the Gilded Age?

A Strict government regulation of corporations and monopolies.
B The widespread adoption of laissez-faire economic policies by the government.
C A decrease in immigration, leading to higher wages for American workers.
D A shift from urban manufacturing to agrarian-based economies.

✓ Correct Answer: Option B

Laissez-faire policies, meaning minimal government intervention in the economy, allowed industrialists to consolidate power, form trusts, and expand their businesses without significant regulatory oversight, contributing to massive growth.

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