Answer:
<em>C. the nation, and since then,</em>
Exclamation: If you're joining two sentences together you need a comma to do so. By placing a comma after "nation" and "then" you are making a run-on sentence.
In response to the argument that the British have protected the colonies, Thomas Paine argues that while this is technically true, the British have only done so for their own economic gain--not out of a feeling of altruism.
I would venture to say that D. makes the most sense. All of the answers seem relevant but the last one seems to have the most information pertaining to the footnote. Hope this helps!
<em>Hello There!!</em>
<em>I think Combined fact and Fiction when writing historical definitely a reliable source to learn what people did and thought in their everyday lives at the time.</em>
<em>P.S</em><em> Tell me if this is wrong....</em>
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