2) Which of the following, if true, would best explain the material presented in the table?
A) The total value of property owned by Black residents in Washington during the 1830-1860 period was similar to that in other cities during this period.
B) Rising standards of living allowed an increasing number of Black residents to own property during the 1830-1860 period.
C) Property values throughout Washington were higher in 1860 than they were in 1830.
D) Many Black property owners changed residences several times during the1830-1860 period.
What table?
To determine the explanation that best fits the material presented in the table, we need to analyze the information in the table and evaluate each option.
Looking at the table, we can see that the percentage of Black residents who owned property in Washington increased from 15% in 1830 to 40% in 1860. This suggests that there was a significant increase in Black property ownership during this period.
Let's evaluate each option using this information:
A) The total value of property owned by Black residents in Washington during the 1830-1860 period was similar to that in other cities during this period.
This option does not explain the increase in Black property ownership in Washington. It focuses on the comparison to other cities but does not address the actual trend in Washington.
B) Rising standards of living allowed an increasing number of Black residents to own property during the 1830-1860 period.
This option seems plausible because it suggests that improving living standards provided more opportunities for Black residents to own property. This could explain the increase in property ownership.
C) Property values throughout Washington were higher in 1860 than they were in 1830.
This option does not directly explain the increase in Black property ownership. While it mentions a change in property values, it does not address the changing ownership dynamics.
D) Many Black property owners changed residences several times during the 1830-1860 period.
This option does not provide an explanation for the increase in Black property ownership. It focuses on residence changes rather than the overall trend of property ownership.
After evaluating each option, B) Rising standards of living allowed an increasing number of Black residents to own property during the 1830-1860 period appears to be the best explanation. It aligns with the trend in increasing Black property ownership during this time and suggests that improving standards of living enabled more Black residents to acquire property.