Refer to the passage. "The issue is socialism vs. capitalism. I am for socialism because I am for humanity. We have been cursed by the reign of gold long enough. Money constitutes no proper basis of civilization. The time has come to regenerate society—we are on the eve of universal change.”

Excerpt from an open letter to the American Railway Union in 1897, by Eugene Debs, founder and member of the Industrial Workers of the World

Which of the following best explains why many Americans rejected the views expressed in the passage?

A) Industrialization created a demand for cheap labor from immigrants, intensifying class conflicts between rich and poor.
B) Industrialization created a middle-class cult of consumption, blunting class conflicts and diluting calls for change.
C) Benefits from industrialization improved conditions overall, easing class conflicts that had been present since the nation’s founding.
D) The government invested heavily in steel and coal, creating jobs nationwide and raising incomes even among those living in poverty.