Question

tuesday
in a series of speeches before her trial for breaking the law by voting in an 1872 federal
election, susan b. anthony defended her action with these words:
... it is downright mockery (insulting) to talk to women of their enjoyment of the blessings of liberty
while they are denied the use of... the ballot.
source: susan b. anthony, is it a crime for a citizen of the united states to vote?
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/anthony/anthonyaddress.html
this excerpt could help support the thesis that susan b. anthony believed that denying
women the right to vote was
a an offense punishable by law.
b a way for political parties to exercise power.
c an example of a states failure to enforce the constitution.
d a violation of the principles of the constitution.

Explanation:

Susan B. Anthony's argument in the excerpt is centered around the idea that denying women the right to vote is a violation of the principles of the Constitution. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and if women (who are citizens) are denied a fundamental right (voting), it goes against the foundational principles (like equality, rights of citizens) that the Constitution is based on. Options A, B, and C do not align with the core argument. Option A is incorrect as it's not framed as a legally punishable offense in this context. Option B is about political parties' power - which is not the main point. Option C is about state enforcement - again, not the key thesis. The key is the violation of constitutional principles (which are the bedrock of the legal and governmental system in the US).

Answer:

D. a violation of the principles of the Constitution.