Though historians once assumed that women were essentially apolitical beings,
they now recognized that women are actively engaged in the debates that accompanying the movement toward independence, after the war many sought a more expansive political role for themselves
A. they now recognized that women are actively engaged in the debates that accompanying the movement toward independence, after the war ---they now recognized is a tense error.
B. it is now recognized that women were actively engaged in the debates that accompanied the movement toward independence, and that after the war – After an initial subordinate clause, the main clause should start with that subject of the main clause an not a place holder.
C. they now recognize that women were actively engaged in the debates that accompanied the movement toward independence, and that after the war --- This is the correct choice.
D. they now recognize that women have been actively engaged in the debates that accompanied the movement toward independence, after the war – This is a comma splice
E. it is now recognized that women have actively engaged in the debates that accompany the movement toward independence, but after the war --- Starting the main clause with a dummy placeholder like ‘it is’ is wrong.