The answer is B, Degradation
I had this question in my quiz and got it right.
http://www.naturalhistoryonthenet.com/Continents/images/continentsall2.gif
I'm not sure if any were begun in 1775. The American Revolution was occurring at the time but it started in 1760's the sugar and stamp acts were in 1764 and 1765, While the Townsend act was in 1770. The declaration wasn't even started until 1817.