A student wrote the following thesis statement for their history research paper:
Because of the U.S. Civil War, the Texas cattle industry turned into a profitable nationwide
industry.
Which of the following statements identifies evidence that best supports this argument?

Because slavery was abolished after the Civil War, cash crops were no longer the most important
goods sold in the Texas economy.

An abundance of cattle existed in Texas after the Civil War, and ranchers needed to find ways to
sell it to northern cities.

Overhunting of buffalo resulted in more Indigenous people trading with ranchers to get cattle for
food and other resources.

A naval blockade of the Texas coast and Mississippi River during the Civil War resulted in more
cattle being shipped to the western frontier.

The statement that best supports the argument that the Texas cattle industry turned into a profitable nationwide industry because of the U.S. Civil War is:

"An abundance of cattle existed in Texas after the Civil War, and ranchers needed to find ways to sell it to northern cities."

This evidence supports the argument because it highlights the increased availability of cattle in Texas after the Civil War. With the end of the war, many cattle were left roaming freely and unattended in Texas. Ranchers recognized this opportunity and sought ways to profit from it by selling the cattle to northern cities where there was a high demand for meat.

This evidence directly connects the impact of the Civil War on the Texas cattle industry, as the war created conditions that led to an abundance of cattle and a need for ranchers to find markets to sell their livestock.