A. In several southern states, where church involvement in suffrage activities was minimal, the women's suffrage movement developed more slowly.This option provides a comparison group (southern states) where a key factor (church involvement) was absent and the outcome (suffrage movement development) was slower. This strengthens Greene's argument by showing that the presence of churches might have been crucial in the Northeast, as their absence elsewhere correlated with less traction.
B. Although some early suffrage activists had backgrounds in religious reform, they deliberately established secular organizations to avoid relying on church-based institutions.Weakens Greene's argument. It suggests that even if there was a religious connection, activists chose to move away from church-based institutions, contradicting the idea that churches were crucial for gaining traction.
C. Many early suffrage organizers in the Northeast were already active in church-run religious reform networks prior to their involvement in political advocacy.Strengthens Greene's argument by showing a direct link between early organizers and church networks. It suggests that the skills, connections, and organizational experience gained within church-run networks could have been transferred directly to the suffrage movement, supporting the idea that churches facilitated the movement's organization and traction.
D. Newspaper coverage of women’s suffrage was more frequent in northeastern states than in other areas of the United States, regardless of the presence of churches.Introduces an alternative explanation for why the movement gained traction in the Northeast (more media coverage). It doesn't directly strengthen the claim about the role of churches; in fact, it suggests another factor was at play "regardless of the presence of churches," which could subtly weaken Greene's specific emphasis on churches.
E. Public petitions supporting women’s voting rights in the early 1800s often used religious language, even when submitted by secular groups.While this shows a religious influence on the language of the movement, it doesn't directly speak to the organizational role or socially acceptable space provided by churches, which is the core of Greene's argument about how the movement "gained traction."
Deciding between A and CA provides comparative evidence across different regions. It shows that in areas without significant church involvement, the movement slowed down. This strongly supports the idea that church involvement was a contributing factor to the movement gaining traction where it did.
C provides direct evidence about the individuals involved and their prior experience within church networks. This strengthens the mechanism Greene proposes: churches provided a training ground and network for organizers.
Due to the fact that A provides a counterfactual scenario it is the stronger choice. Answer A.
Regards,
Lucas
Bunuel
Greene: The early women’s suffrage movement in the northeastern United States gained traction in large part because reform-minded churches provided one of the few socially acceptable spaces where women could speak publicly and organize collective action.Lin: That overstates the role of churches. While some early suffrage events occurred in church buildings, the real acceleration of the movement came later, when women began organizing through secular political associations and advocacy clubs that operated independently of religious institutions.Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen Historian Greene’s argument?A. In several southern states, where church involvement in suffrage activities was minimal, the women's suffrage movement developed more slowly.B. Although some early suffrage activists had backgrounds in religious reform, they deliberately established secular organizations to avoid relying on church-based institutions.C. Many early suffrage organizers in the Northeast were already active in church-run religious reform networks prior to their involvement in political advocacy.D. Newspaper coverage of women’s suffrage was more frequent in northeastern states than in other areas of the United States, regardless of the presence of churches.E. Public petitions supporting women’s voting rights in the early 1800s often used religious language, even when submitted by secular groups.