Which of the following statements best explains how the failure of several railroad companies in the 1890s caused a major economic depression that
affected the entire U. S. economy?
A. Railroad workers had unionized earlier than workers in most other
industries. When railroad companies failed, it convinced business
owners to aggressively fight against unions.
B. Railroad companies were the country's largest employers in the
late 19th century. When several of these companies failed, a huge
number of workers were forced to rely on government welfare
programs.
C. Loose regulations on business had allowed only a few railroad
companies to dominate the entire industry. When those
companies failed, the transportation grid in the United States was
paralyzed.
D. Investors, worried about the prospect of losing their money,
withdrew it in huge amounts from banks. This panic led to bank
failures, which made the problem even worse.