How did Thomas Douglas acquire his wealth?

How did Thomas Douglas acquire his wealth?

• A. He went to law school and helped poor Scottish tenant farmers who were removed from their land by wealthy landowners.
• B. He inherited wealth from his father.
• C. He discovered gold in the Red River Valley.
• D. He started a shipping business in Scotland.

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how a professional path can lead to wealth when it intersects with social advocacy. Going to law school gave him the training to represent and defend people who had little power—the poor Scottish tenant farmers being displaced by wealthier landowners. By applying legal knowledge to their cases, he built a reputation, attracted clients, and generated income through a successful practice. This route—earning money through a legal career while aiding a marginalized group—fits the described life and explains how he accumulated wealth. The other possibilities don’t align with that specific path: inheriting wealth would come from birth, not a professional career; discovering gold or starting a shipping business would rely on resource abundance or entrepreneurial ventures rather than the described legal-advocacy route.

The idea being tested is how a professional path can lead to wealth when it intersects with social advocacy. Going to law school gave him the training to represent and defend people who had little power—the poor Scottish tenant farmers being displaced by wealthier landowners. By applying legal knowledge to their cases, he built a reputation, attracted clients, and generated income through a successful practice. This route—earning money through a legal career while aiding a marginalized group—fits the described life and explains how he accumulated wealth.

The other possibilities don’t align with that specific path: inheriting wealth would come from birth, not a professional career; discovering gold or starting a shipping business would rely on resource abundance or entrepreneurial ventures rather than the described legal-advocacy route.