12. The earliest countries to industrialize - Great Britain and the United States - had free enterprise economies, which meant that factory owners benefited from easy access to free or cheap raw materials. e a lack of governmental regulation. strong labor unions to recruit workers. low taxes on their businesses and products. E

The correct answer is: a lack of governmental regulation.<br /><br />Explanation: The earliest countries to industrialize, such as Great Britain and the United States, had free enterprise economies. This type of economy is characterized by minimal government intervention and regulation, allowing factory owners to operate with relative freedom. This lack of governmental regulation provided factory owners with the ability to benefit from easy access to raw materials, recruit workers, and manage their businesses without significant interference from the government.