Describe the role that America’s great store of mineral resources play

Describe the role that America’s great store of mineral resources played in the industrialization of the economy in the late nineteenth century.

What will be an ideal response?

ANSWER
Consider: gold and silver increased the money supply; iron and steel mechanized manufacturing, agriculture, and transportation; copper electrified production and communication; and oil lubricated machinery. Generally, mineral wealth was the key to basic industries like steel manufacturing, petroleum refining, and electrification.