Question

threatened by popular political victories in the states and widespread resistance, many elite pennsylvanians launched an effort to remake the state and national governments so that they were less democratic. . . popular policies and resistance threatened elite ideals. . . popular calls for a revaluation of war debt certificates, bans on for - profit corporations, progressive taxation, limits on land speculation, and every other measure designed to make property more equal promised to take wealth away from the elite. it was also threatening that popular politics frightened off potential european investors. they were alarmed by the pennsylvania legislatures 1785 cancellation of the bank of north americas corporate charter. . . the push for the constitution was based in part on the belief that state governments across the new nation had been too democratic and, as a result, had produced policies that threatened elite interests. most of the men who assembled at the constitutional convention in philadelphia in 1787 were also convinced that the national government under the articles of confederation was too weak to counter the rising tide of democracy in the states. terry bouton, historian, taming democracy: \the people,\ the founders, and the troubled ending of the american revolution, 2007
3 mark for review the ratification of the united states constitution despite the resistance described in the excerpt is best understood in the context of which of the following developments?
a the threat to the neutral trading rights of the united states
b the persistence of regional cultures in the new united states
c the agreement by some state delegates to pursue a bill of rights
d the mistrust of centralized authority by some anti - federalist politicians

Explanation:

The text discusses how elite Pennsylvanians were alarmed by democratic policies (like those threatening elite interests) and the weakness of the national government under the Articles of Confederation. The push for the Constitution was in part to counter the "rising tide of democracy in the states." The Bill of Rights was a compromise that addressed some of the concerns (though not directly stated here, in the broader context of the Constitution's ratification, the promise of a Bill of Rights was used to gain support. Options A (neutral trading rights) and B (regional cultures) are not related to the described "resistance" (which is about democratic policies threatening elites). Option D (Anti - Federalist mistrust of centralized authority) is a different aspect than the elite - driven push for a less democratic system (the text focuses on elite efforts to remake government, and the Bill of Rights was a way to get the Constitution ratified despite some of the "resistance" concerns about too much democracy at the state level).

Answer:

C. The agreement by some state delegates to pursue a Bill of Rights