Which technological breakthrough has had the BIGGEST impact on communication and access to information in today's world?
A) vaccinations
B) the telegraph
C) pasteurization
D) computers and the internet

B) the telegraph

Explanation:

The first thing we need to note is that the question asks for "communication and access to information". This rules out A & C, which doesn't have as much of a major role in impacting communication, leaving only B & D.

The impact of how these technology shapes the world can only be measured by the impact of the influence it has.

Firstly, the reason i choose the telegraph over the internet & computers, is essentially that it "broke new ground". The telegraph was a massive improvement over the means of carrying messages during the time, limiting the time it takes for messages to be sent from days to even months (through messenger trains, Wells Fargo (then a messenger company), and other letter means), to a mere few seconds to minutes of transferring encoded messages through hundreds, if not thousands of miles. The cost of sending messages drastically decreased, as well as the chances of "losing" a letter. The change allowed to bring the world closer than it was, and allowed for a boom in exchange of information.

While computers & the internet aiding it can do the same, but in mere seconds, it does not have the same influence as the telegraph. Granted, I not only like, but also enjoy using the internet, but as for "biggest impact", it has not have the long historical run of the telegraph and the impact it has played. The telegraph had been tried and proven throughout hundreds of years, while even though the internet is faster, it is not close to being completely secure and has not been around as long. Again, that is not to say that the internet has not shaped our lives, but quite the contrary, but as for the biggest impact, B is your best answer.

~

a, c, & d are correct:

they wanted lands to settle the extra population.

they wanted new markets for english goods.

they wanted to avoid civil war.

food and resources were plentiful.

women were encouraged to marry later in life so they could work in factories.