City and county politics in the late 1800s were influenced by organizations called
a. political machines.
b. political mobs.
c. voting leagues.
d. voting drives.

The correct answer is: a) political machines

Explanation:

In the 19th century, American cities were rapidly growing because of immigration and migration from rural areas. Several problems arose from this growth, the main one being the lack of governance structures. In this context, political machines helped to provide and improve services and facilities, assimilate immigrant groups and foster the growth of business and industrial activity through the exercise of a centralized authority.

b: to eliminate competition from other farmers

while it was true that the cotton gin reduced the labor of removing seeds, it did not reduce the need for slaves to grow and pick the cotton.

explanation:

before eli whitney's invention of the cotton gin, picking and cleaning cotton was a slow, labor-intensive job. workers, usually slaves, had to pick the seeds from the cotton fibers by hand. this invention made it possible to grow large amounts of cotton on big farms and make money.