Name a major effect of the American Industrial Revolution.

• A. Growth of factories, urbanization, and the rise of labor unions and new technologies (e.g., railroads, telegraph).
• B. Decreased urban population and decline of railroads.
• C. Strengthening of subsistence farming with minimal technology.
• D. Decreased labor movement and increased isolation of workers.

Answer: (A)

A major effect of the American Industrial Revolution is the shift from craft-based production to large-scale factories, which spurred rapid urbanization as people moved to cities for work, and it catalyzed new technologies that transformed communication and transportation, like railroads and the telegraph. This combination expanded markets, increased production, and altered daily life, while the tougher working conditions led workers to organize into unions to push for better wages, hours, and safety. The other options describe outcomes that run counter to what happened: urban populations grew, not declined, railroads expanded rather than declined, subsistence farming gave way to industrial manufacturing, and labor movements gained strength rather than diminishing.