B. they represented powerful rulers
The correct answer here is to establish Germany's war guilt.
With this article, it is established clearly that the war was Germany's fault, and of her allies. Germany accepted this. What all of this means is that now as the both guilty and losing party Germany had to accept things the Allies demanded of her. The Allies had all the power in this negotiations.
Answer: The white men were threatened by his status as a freedman.
Explanation: “So him and two other struck me with a stick and told me they were going to kill me and every other Negro who told them that they did not belong to anyone”