I'm pretty sure (1) Trade with Asia is right because the plague was carried by rats on ships coming from the East to the West.
Also, you can guess by the dates. The Black Death was in the 12th and 13th centuries, while conquest of Japan and exploration of the Western Hemisphere were in the 14th century.
Women had to tack on new roles to support there families. The war provided women to get in to the public sphere.
I believe the answer is a. & then d.
The most common method is the First method in which an amendment may be proposed by a 2/3rds vote in each house of congress and be ratified by 3/4ths of the state legislatures.
The government was unable to tax the citizens