Final answer:
The author's statement that "The cause of America is the cause of all mankind" means that America's struggle for independence reflects the universal fight against oppressive governments. It implies a broad, global desire for self-determination and freedoms that extend beyond America's borders.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the author said, "The cause of America" is "the cause of all mankind", he was suggesting that the struggle of the American colonies for independence was a universal struggle for freedom and self-determination. In this context, it implies that the fight against oppressive government (Option C) is a common thread that people everywhere can relate to and is not unique to America, but a part of the human condition.
Principal causes of the American Revolution include the British efforts to consolidate control over its colonies, as seen in the passage. Measures such as the Sugar and Stamp Acts, Declaratory Act, and Intolerable Acts, among others, reinforced the perception that the British government was acting in an oppressive and overbearing manner towards the colonies. This growing desire for self-governance and the resistance to perceived economic exploitation under the system of mercantilism were pivotal in the decision to seek independence from British rule. Thus, the statement suggests that America's quest for independence resonated with a broader, global desire for these rights and freedoms, aligning America’s cause with that of humanity at large.