Asked by Zachary McFarlane on May 24, 2024

verifed

Verified

Which of the following best describes the economic engine of the American West?

A) manufacture of industrial goods for the Pacific trade
B) trade with China for the importation of cheap consumer goods
C) small-scale subsistence farming without much contact to the East
D) conversion of natural resources into commodities

Economic Engine

A sector or industry that plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth and development within a region, country, or city.

American West

A region of the United States characterized by its frontier history, encompassing the period of westward expansion.

Natural Resources

Physical materials originating from the earth that are valuable and necessary for humans, including water, minerals, and forests.

  • Understand the economic drivers of the American West, including the cattle industry and the extraction of natural resources.
verifed

Verified Answer

NS
Nicole SchaeferMay 30, 2024
Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
The economic engine of the American West has historically been driven by the conversion of natural resources into commodities. This includes activities such as mining, forestry, and agriculture, where natural resources are extracted or produced and then processed or sold as commodities in various markets. This has been a defining characteristic of the economic development in the American West.