Correct. The answer is a. The national debt as a percentage of the GDP of the United States shrank rapidly after the Civil War in part because rapid industrialization increased the GDP dramatically during the period between 1880 and 1900. If the GDP of the United States had remained stagnant, the national debt would not have decreased so rapidly.

Incorrect. The answer is a. The national debt as a percentage of the GDP of the United States shrank rapidly after the Civil War in part because rapid industrialization increased the GDP dramatically during the period between 1880 and 1900. If the GDP of the United States had remained stagnant, the national debt would not have decreased so rapidly.

Correct. The answer is c. By the middle of the nineteenth century, Britain had already established a large and powerful empire, and after that time, it maintained and benefitted from that empire without the need to fight more expensive wars. The United States, on the other hand, did not fight any lengthy wars between the American Revolution and 1860 and kept its national debt extremely low during that time. After the Civil War, however, the United States grew as an international power and expanded its geographical reach, which required new levels of spending and a level of national debt that was unprecedented before 1860.

Incorrect. The answer is c. By the middle of the nineteenth century, Britain had already established a large and powerful empire, and after that time, it maintained and benefitted from that empire without the need to fight more expensive wars. The United States, on the other hand, did not fight any lengthy wars between the American Revolution and 1860 and kept its national debt extremely low during that time. After the Civil War, however, the United States grew as an international power and expanded its geographical reach, which required new levels of spending and a level of national debt that was unprecedented before 1860.