Which of the following developments LEAST strengthened the increasing economic linkage of the North and the Midwest during the antebellum era?
A. The growth of canals and railroads
B. The spread of plantation agriculture
C. The federal attempts to create a national economy
D. The shift to market production
Answer: B
Explanation: The spread of plantation agriculture took place in the South and facilitated economic linkages between the Southeast and the Southwest. It did not play a significant role in the increasing economic connections between the North and the Midwest.