Questions 1 through 3 refer to the following. Which of the following developments helps to explain the change in agriculture depicted in the graph? (A) The extraction of western resources led to the growth of new towns and cities that demanded agricultural goods. (B) The growth of an internal slave trade provided an enlarged workforce whose labor helped increase agricultural production. (C) Farmers' cooperative organizations reduced consolidation in the agricultural markets in order to increase production. (D) Increased migration from the West for industrial jobs in eastern cities led to increased consumption of agricultural goods.

## Step 1: Analyze the Graph<br />### The graph shows a significant increase in eastbound freight from California between 1873 and 1892, particularly in fruit and sugar. This indicates a growth in agricultural production and transportation.<br /><br />## Step 2: Identify Relevant Historical Context<br />### During this period, several factors could have contributed to the increase in agricultural production and transportation. Key developments include the extraction of western resources leading to new towns and cities, increased migration, and changes in labor dynamics.<br /><br />## Step 3: Evaluate Each Option<br />### (A) The extraction of western resources led to the growth of new towns and cities that demanded agricultural goods. This is plausible as new settlements would require food supplies.<br />### (B) The growth of an internal slave trade provided an enlarged workforce whose labor helped increase agricultural production. This is not relevant to the time period or region.<br />### (C) Farmers' cooperative organizations reduced consolidation in the agricultural markets in order to increase production. While cooperatives existed, they were more focused on fair prices rather than increasing production.<br />### (D) Increased migration from the West for industrial jobs in eastern cities led to increased consumption of agricultural goods. This is also plausible as it suggests a higher demand for agricultural products in the East.<br /><br />## Step 4: Determine the Most Likely Explanation<br />### Both options (A) and (D) are plausible, but option (A) directly ties the growth of new towns and cities to the demand for agricultural goods, which aligns well with the observed increase in freight.